I have read somewhere that when You go to other countries than your to truly experience the country You need to become a native to try the country yourself. I have never thought about it before even though I have already visited a few countries out of Lithuania. Now that I am in the Czech Republic for longer, I thought why not to try it?
What at first I thought crazy was sleeping pattern usual for the local as going to sleep very early as well as waking up very early is usual for quite a lot of people. Now I am also trying to get at least closer to that and form going to sleep way after midnight I am trying to make it at least until midnight while before school even earlier. I must admit still working on that but that is already a good beginning. For school we are waking up very early and I need a lot of sleep to function properly, so I am happy with small successes. Another thing – food. Locals tend to eat very early as having lunch at around 11-12 is normal as well as not eating after 4-6 in the evening too. For me at first, it seemed crazy and still does but I already notice changes in my habits with this too as that just happens in addition to sleeping pattern.
One more thing is outdoor activeness. This did not seem crazy, but it amazes me how many people enjoy walking, running or cycling. Of course, the very big benefit for that is local nature rich with hills and gorgeous fields and little forests, parks. And for that, me and Alma decided to make yourself a little bike trip. She is good at biking but has done it quite a while ago while I have learnt cycling just like two and a half year ago and have not cycled since last summer. We borrowed equipment from our dear mentor and hoped for a short trip somewhere around yet ended up with more than 35 km trip to Panska Skala. I must admit there were moments when we were regretting going uphill and this far as for the first this kind of trip. Yet it was more than a reward to see such gorgeous surrounding nature still green yet slowly getting into the autumn mood. And I cannot describe the feeling of when we reached our destination. We were more than proud of not giving up and then even climbed to the top. And I was taking photos of Alma and I have seen her free and happy, relaxed and not bothered with the usual routine and her studies and that the best thing, I believe, as I felt seeing her soul and mind shining. It was magnificent as well as the ice cream that we have eaten there. And then we flew home. No, not cycle, we were flying downhill so free, so loose and for few moments all I could think was „Whoa, this is amazing, and I am here, and I am with Alma and I am really happy “. There already is a special place for us where we stopped both going up and down just to sit for a while embracing the moment. I was deeply touched. Do all people feel like that when a combination of activeness and travelling goes this unexpectedly great? I hope so... Anyway, I hope for more of such trips.
„If you’re going to try, go all the way. /Otherwise, don’t even start. (...)“. I believe these words from one of the greatest poems by Charles Bukowski summarises not only this little trip of ours or my experiments with testing this wonderful country called the Czech Republic yet also our whole project for me and my colleagues. „Go all the way... “and I already imagine how much we can get, create, change, learn, feel and experience from every day given to us. I am pretty sure that is useful not only when participating in a project yet while living each of our lives, right? Well, at least I believe so...
To be continued ????
Yours Aušra
2020/10/05
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