Instead of constantly analyzing my goals and obsessing about what I’m supposed to get out of “my abroad experience,” I’m really starting to relax and think about what would make me happy at the moment. What do I want to do right now? Although I’m keeping the end of the semester in mind, I’m not worrying much more than one or two days in advance. And you know what? I think things are working out much better.

I made a list a few months ago in the back of one of my Prague guidebooks of a bunch of things I wanted to see/visit before I left. There’s no way I’ll be able to see even half of them, but really, will I be upset when I return home is I haven’t see Museum A or Tourist Attraction B? I think I’ll be happy enough if I look back and know I had fun during the final stretch of my time.

Yesterday, I went to see a gypsy soul concert with Maya and her Czech friend, Stanislav. She suggested it earlier in the day and it sounded interesting, but I thought I’d stay in and get some work done. But later in the evening, I realized I’d done enough work finished during my midday class break, and hey, gypsy soul sounded kind of interesting. Despite being a quite over priced concert (400 CZK, or twice the price of my Don Giovanni ticket), it was a good night. Although the singer was the one who was advertised, she was wayyy overshadowed by her band. I mean, I didn’t exactly understand what she was singing (or even what language she was singing in), but the guitarists and keyboardist were a-m-a-z-i-n-g. The music was very chill and it was a relaxing night. I would definitely consider bringing some gypsy music back home with me. We went to a pub near the concert venue and tried one of Maya’s favorite beers that was pretty good. Unfortunately, I got terribly lost on the way back to the metro on my own and it took forever to get back to the flat. Stanislav, who gave me directions, got lost on his way home too.

This morning I skipped my Czech class and slept in a little. Just as I was getting up, Maya called to ask if I wanted to join her and Julie for lunch at this garlic soup restaurant that she swears by. I was almost too lazy to get dressed and meet them, but I’m glad I did. It was actually the same restaurant I went with Becca to last week for fondue. It’s a little place in this quaint brick basement and its garlic soup did not disappoint. It was creamy and very cheesy and I couldn’t even finish my bowl. Julie and I went back to the flat afterwards and walked by this palacinky (crepe) stand in Narodni Trida that I ALWAYS pass late at night and crave when it’s closed. I decided this weekend that it was one place I was determined to go to before I left Prague. And despite still being full, I fulfilled my goal right then and there. Don’t regret it. A chocolate and coconut crepe made right in front of me for only 30 CZK (ummm… $1.50!).

Back in the flat, I decided to tackle my Alternative Culture final paper that I’ve been putting off for weeks. Then, I spontaneously changed my topic and decided to write about café culture in Prague. Perfect. Tons of history online and I’ve decided to make the second half of my paper a personal account of my café experiences and recommendations on the best lattes and horka cokoladas in the city. It’s already half done, and I plan on doing some more research tomorrow morning, if you know what I mean.

I also cooked my first successful non-pasta, made-from-scratch meal. It was my cooking week for my flatmates and I made chicken quesadillas. They were delicious. I wish I had gotten pictures of me over frying pans on the stove as proof. Alas. Inspired, I made the dough for the chocolate chip cookies I’m baking tomorrow for the party my Czech mom’s throwing for me on Saturday. I actually found brown sugar and spent an hour (literally) chopping up chocolate because they don’t sell chocolate chips here.

Afterwards, Julie, Maya and I went to Kozolna, this bar/restaurant we always pass on our way to class, named after the best dark beer brand in Prague (in our collective opinion). Again, another place we’ve wanted to go to for ages. Turns out they make wonderful light beer too. On our walk there, we also got the idea to create a Svandovo-Andel flat bonding pub crawl next week, to hit up all the bars in our area that we haven’t yet been to. I don’t know why we hadn’t thought of this earlier!

Tomorrow, I’m conducting some café “research,” going to the Mozart Museum, making my cookies, going to the Christmas market in Wenceslas Square, and picking up Jeff from the airport.

You know, I like this new approach of “what will be fun tomorrow?”