"This isn't London!" the lady screamed at me.

I was working my first real shift at The Globe yesterday when a rotund woman with big tight curly hair the color of a random dog came in and approached the counter. I went up to her smiling, and she began to speak to me in Czech, which I do not speak. So I waited until I had a chance to interject without seeming rude to tell her "Nemluvim Český."

Well, we certainly couldn't have that. The woman threw up her pokey little arms and wheeled around in the little entryway of the bookstore, ranting (she really was ranting) about what an injustice it was to have an English speaker man the register at an English-language bookstore. Now, I understand the expectation that native residents of cities have that others will speak their language. Americans are certainly familiar with the periodic frustration that an influx of foreigners can bring to general social interactions.

But still -- how many Americans literally throw their arms in the air when it turns out the waiter at Mi Pueblo doesn't speak English? No one who isn't an idiot, at least. So it did make me feel a little better to see other Czech customers laughing at the woman under their breath or into their books. I sensed a bit of sympathy, but I still felt diminutized. Then, later, I fumbled protocol when I left the front, bookstore area unattended to try to find a manager for a phone call, which act of near career suicide earned me a swift and brusque berating from Jason, the Chicago-born American guy who looks like a really fat Jason Schwartzman (reaaally fat). His name is actually Jason as well, I just realized. Huh.

So that's an update I needed to write because I thought it would make a good story. Hopefully you enjoyed reading it. I have been super busy with adding this new job, trying to find another apartment and generally just surviving in Prague. I will get paid soon, and since I still have 2,000 Kč left over from last paycheck (somewhat mitigated by a few credit card purchases -- don't be alarmed!) I will have effectively made money in Prague. Hooray!

Let's all say hooray! When I get the time, a shitton of pictures and videos for you.

<3