Making This New Space a Place

So I've only been here for a little over a week, and 4 of those days weren't even in my town, but I'm already feeling this little sense that my new apartment is growing into a home. No the bed isn't comfortable and I can barely fit in my own bathroom, but it's the only place I have that's mine and mine alone. So I was making some changes in the place today and thought one day I'd like to look back on the pictures I'm taking and remember those first few days where I kind of was a stranger in my own home, and hopefully laugh at how un-broken in it was. I know a lot of memories are going to be made in this place and this is just the beginning!!

Well here she is!! I live on the 3rd floor of this home, with my entirely separate everything, but it does still kind of feel like I'm in a family home. This morning I woke up to the smell of fresh baked bread or pastries maybe, and even though I was immediately frustrated I wouldn't be eating them haha it was a nice feeling to know a real life and family is just on the floor below me (with a little boxer named Hugo <3). Another thing I have to get used to is the use of keys in this country so far lol. I could be totally wrong but in just my 1 week here the amount of keys I'm gonna need are wild. I need a key to get in and out of the gate, the house, and my specific apartment. And that's just at the house - I'll probably have 5 at school haha. It's the little things I find to complain about lol

Okay now for the apartment tour:

Overall, this place is so cute and spacious. Some other ETAs have way different situations and I'm feeling really lucky to have this much space to myself. I'm also feeling really appreciative of the authenticity of this place. It honestly is a real Czech home. The bathroom is tiny and the toilet is wobbly, and the shower curtain is made of the literal thinnest plastic I've ever seen. The floors have these weird dips and slants so who knows what that means, there's no oven, and I'm stuck with twin blankets on a queen bed. BUT, it was decorated USA theme to remind me of home, there's a collection of CocaCola cups that remind me of my old babysitter Michelle, a wind chime outside that reminds me of my Papap, and an incredible balcony that makes everything else feel pretty insignificant. The space is slowly coming together and from the little decorations that I've brought from home it's really starting to feel more like mine. I brought 10 prints of pictures from this past summer that remind me of everything I love and memories that brought me so much joy. I, of course, brought a set of string lights and finally hung those today in my bedroom so now I can have that perfect lighting that's been in every one of my rooms since 2017. And above my desk you'll see the start of a little collection of decorations I've received here. I hung up the sign that Martina's daughter made me from the airport and an aerial view of Tábor that a pilot (from the school I work at?? lol) took and printed just for me so I can pinpoint my house right along the river. And on the wall right next to it is a funny bandana Annie threw at me right before I left, pretty sure as a joke but made me laugh a little when I hung it up. And that second to last picture is from my view, right now, as I sat down to start writing a bit. You really can't beat this.

Some comical things happened these past few days though, that I know I'll get a kick out of one day looking back on it. They're your typical new apartment, different country, can't get anything to work ones haha:

• Somehow I managed to lock my clothes in the washing machine?? How you may ask. I literally don't know. Tried to start my first round of laundry navigating these instructions only partially translated into English but feeling like it can't be too difficult, right? Put my clothes in, press start, hearing weird noises but still going strong, and then red lights start flashing aggressively. like..is it gonna explode what could be that wrong.. I turn on and off in the process of figuring this out, but the door stayed locked and even when I unplugged it the door refused to open...for like 10 minutes. So I was on the floor for about 20 more minutes accepting the fact that my clothes were forever locked in there and i don't know what this stupid alert was. Basically I needed to turn on the water supply but idiot me didn't know that was a thing that would be turned off and also didn't know to look at the FAUCET to do so and instead I was trying to pull out these concrete cabinets that I don't think have ever be moved..ever. It was gross but after a couple panicked FaceTime to literally everyone I know, I got it to work haha. Not to mention the washer AGGRESSIVELY spins so just imagine me trying to shower in the meantime keeping the door open, sticking my head out every 5 seconds to make sure it wasn't combusting. Anyways.

• All coffee machines are not the same lol. I filled up the entire water tank on the back, like I do at home, expecting to brew just one small cup of coffee. I press start, walk away for a second, and come back to find the entire pot of water actually brews for one pod. Perfect. So imagine me panicking switching out cups as one literally overflowed with the most watered down coffee since I put like a liter of water in first. Ugh.

• Don't even attempt to read a Czech toaster oven manual, because you're just not gonna understand it and the symbols are NOT universal. So just pick some random settings and hope for the best, and don't freak out when smoke (I think) starts coming out the back the first time you put it on, just assume that's normal and it'll go away. Learned that from experience lol. (ok but also what would I do if a fire started...I have no fire extinguisher...or instincts to put out said fire...)

• This damn Wifi. Ok we've all dealt with bad wifi but I can literally only sit in one corner of this place for it to work. And I literally mean ONE corner. I can't move within the corner. Can't use my phone in bed, in the living room, in the kitchen. Nope. If I'm on FaceTime and go to give a tour, I sprint and warn everyone the call WILL drop and I'll call back soon. But today I experimented and if I put the router thing on the floor and use the 3ft of loose wire to move a bit, I can actually put my computer on the very corner of the right side of my bed, swing the door open, and there we go - I can stream 1/2 a YouTube video before it's out again. But hey, that's progress. And no, it doesn't work on the left corner of the bed and especially not up by the pillows. Forget about that. But just so you don't worry about me, I do have data now on my phone and gonna probably get some type of extension or antenna or anything. i don't know haha.

Some of this made me laugh, some cry a little, but so far so good. Love my little place here and looking forward to making some memories here! Having my first guests this weekend with some ETAs visiting for Tábor's food and wine festival so stay tuned :)

**Also kinda random but thought I'd put my address here? I don't know if that's bad so like don't come stalking this family home I'm in (even though I'd love for a visitor <3). But hand written letters are my most favorite thing in the entire world soooo....

Švamberkova 1182, 39001 Tábor Czech Republic