It's no news but I've been back in Prague for the summer. Believe it or not, as much as I love this city, coming back was not my intention. When I left this city behind, I thought the next time I'll be back would be perhaps with a family of my own. But merely a little over a year later, I'm back.
Someone once said something along the lines of me destined to be here. It sounds silly and I'm not sure about "destiny" but this city has surely become more than just a place I studied abroad during my college career. This city in a way became a third home or something of that sort to me.
The last couple of days, a friend had visited Prague, and I had the honor of showing her around this beautiful and "third home" of mine. Walking along the Vltava river, overseeing the little red roofs, and getting lost in the alleyways of pastel colored architecture, I fell in love with the city all over again. Stuck in the financial district (or imagine something like that) all day everyday, I had forgotten why people travel from all parts of the world just to visit this small little place.
Vltava River & Prague Castle by day
Vlata River & Prague Castle by night
The friend has gone back to the states (where there is real Mexican and Peruvian food.. Yum), hump day has come to an end already, and I'm about to knock out in this metro.. yet I’m in love with this part of my life in this so called “Fairytale City.” I look miserable in the metro after a long day of work—and I believe this is the reason why the traffic control never checks my ID—and even though I am dead tired right now, I love how I can just hop to a different train to go to a cafe I like because it’s raining outside. I love how I already have the hours memorized, which drink and cake to order, and how even my phone recognizes the WiFi. I love this ease and comfort I feel in this place. It’s strange for an Asian-American girl to say that she feels at home (even to me) at a place where she’s a minority and can barely communicate in the native language, but I do.
The best chai tea latte of my (short) life
I get asked this question a lot, “Why Prague? Why not Paris?” I mean, I still find it funny that despite the years I spent studying French and loving everything about French (I’m a fake francophile), I studied in Prague and then back here again. If anyone is curious, in high school, I had an art teacher named Ms. Reynolds, and she was from Prague. She always spoke so fondly of Prague and called Prague a city for an artist. Because I spent so many hours in the studio, without even knowing, I became so fond of Prague that decided to study there instead of Paris.
Now I feel like there is some validity behind the statement I am about to make, as I’ve lived here as a student and a working person, but I am not sure if Prague is really a city for an artist like she said haha. But I do not regret my decision to study abroad here, to have met people here, to come back here to work, and to just have welcomed this place as home in the midst of my many other homes (or no homes since I am a bit of a nomad).
A random postcard I found online.
Maybe Ms. Reynolds is the artist of this postcard.. Haha
There is this artist I used to listen to when I was in middle school, and his name is Lasse Lindh. He’s Swedish but he has an interesting past of living in Korea for a year. He fell in love with Korea so much that he decided to live in Seoul and even published a book called “Hallo, Seoul!” His songs are nice to listen to, especially on a rainy day like this, and I find this connection (?) with this guy because I am not the only one in love with a foreign city.
Lasse Lindh- The Stuff
Lasse Lindh- I Could Give You Love
His book on Seoul
I might not be creating art left and right, but I do have to credit my time here for revitalizing creativity within me. I simply am inspired more, think more, and just see more. Perhaps it’s not Prague or Seoul that is for artists. Maybe.. a new city, a new place is where artists grow the most. Hmm, maybe.
Anyways, I am done with my cup of chai tea latte, and the rain has stopped, meaning it’s time for me to head back home. Haha, home.
Written 07.29.15
