Happy Friday!

We had a student reading tonight. All of the students from certain workshops were allowed to read in the theater we've been using for all of the big readings. It was a great group of writers-- really varied. Some people are totally experienced in readings and poetry slams and performing in general. Others were first timers. Regardless, it was such a huge array of different genres and talents. I found it even more enjoyable than the famous author readings because I felt like people really exposed their work--shared a piece of themselves. And, the people are really talented.

Just had dinner tonight at a restaurant called Luka Lu...it was adorable, having funky upside down tea party tables hanging from the ceiling, almost like Alice in Wonderland. We sat out on the sidewalk and enjoyed the good food. One dish we ordered was the soup called "chicken beg"--containing mixed vegetables, broth and "aphrodisiacs" according to the menu! We ordered up! It was a nice chance to hang out with two women who I have enjoyed getting to know. Both of them are full time writers--a fact I find admirable and quite gutsy. They are both very different--Shara is a non fiction writer working on a book about a trip to China. She is in the editing stages--quite far along in her project. The other woman, Heather, has an MFA and is now traveling around on these various writing grants and fellowships she has received.

Earlier in the day I found a mall in Prague. I happened to it quite by accident. It was crazy--the whole time was walking through it, I was thinking--I want this mall in my town! Jersey, the mall capital of the world, has nothing on Prague! But, I also was shocked by this--I mean, who expects that Prague will have a fancy, fully decked out 3 story mall! What about the slow move to capitalism?! Clearly, in twenty years, Prague has caught up in its mall quality! I won't be spending a lot of time at this mall during my time here. But, still, it was bizarre to see such a glamorous and fancy mall over here in the former communist state. At the end of the day, I admit it, it's comforting to walk through a mall, no matter where it is.

Good night!