tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-328588892009-10-31T02:32:26.789+01:00BlackGirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09640462183169755311noreply@blogger.comBlogger215125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32858889.post-46864529441855252012009-09-24T11:48:00.004+02:002009-09-24T12:35:50.713+02:00

I'm loving this September in Prague. The weather has been great. (Today looks a bit iffy, but it was sunny all week so one grey day ain't that bad.) This time last year I was digging out winter gear. I remember because last September I went off to London and was grateful to escape the chill in Prague for a week. What puzzles me now are people who absolutely swear this is a colder Fall season.

BlackGirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09640462183169755311noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32858889.post-27908018385697991052009-09-19T16:19:00.005+02:002009-09-19T16:57:48.489+02:00

There's a part of me that feels I came to Prague to “grow up”. Yesterday, I brought home my first sofa. Yay!Yup, I've been here three years and have had no real furniture save for a bed, a table and a chair. Ask my guests. (I also have an air mattress that I'll be selling soon because felines and inflatable stuff don't mix.) Meals with friends were conducted picnic style on layers of blankets and

BlackGirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09640462183169755311noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32858889.post-90552080191603687992009-09-15T07:46:00.008+02:002009-09-15T13:25:59.012+02:00

BlackGirl, Where have you been and what have you been up to?Still in Prague, keeping a low profile. It's been a strange year, and I've had a lot of thinking to do.About what exactly?The usual stuff—life, asking questions, looking for the big B: balance. Strangely, once the half-marathon was over I got unhinged. I didn't realize how much energy, not just physically, I had put into achieving that

BlackGirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09640462183169755311noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32858889.post-51326804355442415762009-09-13T22:14:00.014+02:002009-09-15T13:18:01.327+02:00

It was almost a year ago that Namesake and me stood on Staromestka Namesti at the annual Tesco 5K Night Run, and as we watched the runners cross the finish line I declared that I planned to run my first race—a half marathon—in 2009. Which I did, and the summary of that race marked my last real blog post. (The next post will give a quick summary of what I've been up to since that race. Promise.

BlackGirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09640462183169755311noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32858889.post-87750398056566785992009-09-11T13:16:00.004+02:002009-09-14T02:28:25.059+02:00

....Always.

BlackGirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09640462183169755311noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32858889.post-30788227195281595292009-04-04T23:04:00.012+02:002009-09-13T23:37:35.006+02:00

Wanted to share some pictures and one bout of silliness from my first ever race—last Saturday's Prague Half Marathon.My time: 2:01:39. Not bad for a newbie runner. :)It was a good—maybe even great—first experience. Namesake, Ci and her boyfriend came to see me off. (Thanks guys, you rock!)My starting pace was pretty conservative, probably slower than it needed to be, but I wanted to prevent early

BlackGirlnoreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32858889.post-60667289052539834772009-04-03T09:28:00.003+02:002009-09-13T23:37:15.160+02:00

Is this Prague's biggest event of the year? Probably.Obama comes into town tomorrow and will give a speech on Sunday morning. I'm making plans with some friends to go hear him speak. Gates to Hradcany Square, where the event will be held, open at 7am, but crowds are expected before that time.Looks like I'm going to be setting up my alarm. As I wrote to Namesake: “It's a rare man that I would get

BlackGirlnoreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32858889.post-44938644351525548342009-02-23T10:06:00.010+01:002009-09-15T09:04:10.542+02:00

An internal dialogue from the last few months. Can you relate?I'd like to do ABC, but I'm busy. Put it on my to-do list.I really want to (ought to, must do) ABC, but this “busy” thing just won't let up.I want to make ABC a priority, but gosh, busy again...and tired. How does Oprah do it? Right, she has a staff.I'll regroup this weekend, then start ABC next week—on Monday.Great, someone else is

BlackGirlnoreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32858889.post-87662779117317112832009-02-22T10:09:00.010+01:002009-09-13T23:36:34.168+02:00

I woke up early for a Sunday morning—7:30am. Too early to be thinking about racial bias, and the complexities of foreign aid to Africa. But these two topics grabbed my attention in the list of articles featured in my daily email subscription to the NYTimes.On aid to Africa. First impression: Hard to disagree with Dambisa Moyo. I completely see the connection between foreign aid to African

BlackGirlnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32858889.post-27722756766135156952009-02-01T20:24:00.009+01:002009-09-13T23:38:27.174+02:00

I went for a run late this morning. Training for a half-marathon that's coming up at the end of March.Running in zero-degree weather isn't my idea of a rollicking good time, but pride (I've publicized my athletic intention to family and friends) and vanity (mini movements leftward on the scale) are great motivators. Plus, I've already paid 35 Euros ($45) to be at the start line—I hate to waste

BlackGirlnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32858889.post-21844606080752934982008-10-11T13:05:00.007+02:002009-02-22T11:12:50.424+01:00

Hi folks,BlackGirl is still around. Swamped with work. (Who isn't?) Testing out a potential romance. (He's Slovak.) But mainly grappling with a case of blogger's block or whatever the term may be. It's simply this: I'm not exactly the same person who started this blog some two years ago. But yet I feel that I'm still writing like her, focusing on the minute when my real world, personality,

BlackGirlnoreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32858889.post-22945004410212692032008-10-01T09:49:00.011+02:002009-02-22T11:12:27.470+01:00

I can't believe it's October. Where did time go? I want more hours in my day so I can attempt to have a life. My schedule has taken on a disquieting monotony—eat, sleep, work, eat, sleep, work, eat, sleep, work—and I haven't seen many of my friends in weeks. But I suspect that additional hours if they come will get cannibalized by? Sleep. Which is what I did the most of during my trip to London

BlackGirlnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32858889.post-831830582469030872008-09-16T21:32:00.005+02:002009-02-22T11:39:58.893+01:00

I'm still in good standing with the Czechs. My long-term residency visa and work permit were extended today. (I still find it puzzling how a year qualifies as “long-term”, but hey, one knows better than to argue with immigration....)Of course, this also means I have decided to stay an extra year. It's a two-way thing.Prague has been good for me, and even though I can find things (the weather!) to

BlackGirlnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32858889.post-6097389609492202802008-09-15T21:19:00.005+02:002009-02-01T21:24:31.465+01:00

Brrr. We have a cold week ahead. It was in the 40s today. At this rate I doubt there will be a transition into Fall at all. I'm not happy. Winter gear should stay hidden until late October, but clearly this is not going to be the case for this year. Looks like winter might be a long one.Weather I can't control, but two things perked me up today:A new toy! My co-worker returned from a visit to

BlackGirlnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32858889.post-87683710091412089892008-09-14T23:05:00.009+02:002009-02-01T21:24:40.217+01:00

Ay, winter is here. If not, it sure feels like it.Last night, I went out to Old Town square with Namesake to see the annual Prague Night races. The temperature was 47F. I wore a sweater and a jacket, and casual sneakers for the first time since April. I felt under-dressed. Namesake wore even less. We shivered as we watched runners cross the finish line for the 5k women's race.Two thoughts

BlackGirlnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32858889.post-84036302221944204642008-09-06T17:53:00.010+02:002009-02-01T21:24:48.061+01:00

Items SisterDoctor sent from New York arrived safely yesterday. When my company's reception desk called to tell me I had a package I was so thrilled I did a victory dance. Yay! (I live a “get pleasure out of any moment you can find” lifestyle....)What did I get?A blue-tooth headset for Skype – I was tired of not having mobility during calls.Replacement Koss earbuds for my Ipod – I think these

BlackGirlnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32858889.post-11737796771372928442008-09-05T12:56:00.009+02:002009-02-01T21:24:54.666+01:00

After years of indecision, I finally got inked—with henna. During a night stroll through San Antonio. A little reptile on my left arm. The tattoo artist was a sweet hunk called Joachim. He wanted to charge me 15 Euros. That wasn't so sweet to me.Me: For this itty bitty gecko? I don't think so.Joachim: Okay, 12 Euros. A really good deal because the design is intricate and takes more time to do....

BlackGirlnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32858889.post-6629271100574514642008-09-04T11:49:00.001+02:002009-02-01T21:25:03.760+01:00

Growing up in Nigeria, I watched my mom, grandmother and female relatives bargain with abandon. Everything—big or small—was negotiable. Bargaining was a verbal dance, a stroking of egos, a careful mix of petulance and flirtation. Executed well, both sides walked away satisfied—the buyer kept more of her money, and the seller still made a profit and got entertained on what might have been a slow

BlackGirlnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32858889.post-28694566572511000042008-09-02T22:48:00.010+02:002009-02-01T21:25:10.356+01:00

Ahoj. Summer is over—I wore a sweater yesterday, a blazer today. Will I need my leather jacket tomorrow? Did summer ever start at all? Prague was unusually cool and wet this year.Disconnecting and taking an eight-day break to Ibiza gave me plenty of time to think. Maybe too much time actually. Because I returned with a list of “changes” to implement.Uhh, isn't it a bit late in the year for

BlackGirlnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32858889.post-76904015524991865982008-09-01T20:56:00.004+02:002009-02-01T21:25:17.487+01:00

(I'm undecided about extending my Flickr pro account, so for now I'm posting pictures directly on the blog....)Formantera – Two hours away by ferry. Pristine beaches, clear waters. You can wade out far and still feel the bottom, which was important because yours truly is a fake swimmer. Cala Bossa – Loved the name, loved the mesmerizing emerald waters even more. Just thirty minutes from San

BlackGirlnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32858889.post-53639108846422590742008-08-31T09:51:00.011+02:002009-02-01T21:25:25.336+01:00

Ahoj folks! Seven days of sun, sand, water and the mighty buffet line went by faster than I imagined they would.Eivissa aka Ibiza: Gorgeous, clear blue-green waters, clean beaches. Absolutely nothing to do but wake up each morning in time to catch breakfast on a patio with a view of the harbor and yachts—hmm, how do I get me one of those?...—then retreat for a nap, the pool, the beach or an

BlackGirlnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32858889.post-5016433627939197512008-08-19T23:12:00.002+02:002009-02-01T21:25:33.594+01:00

As of tomorrow...IBIZA!For the next eight days.Sun, Sand and—fingers crossed—some Sexy Spaniards.Heading out with my friend and partner-in-stress Madame D.Updates when I return.Cauky.

BlackGirlnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32858889.post-76784634040787788332008-08-18T12:50:00.003+02:002009-02-01T21:19:07.223+01:00

Still in Prague.Busy, busy, busy.Barely a moment to stop and blog. Even forgot to mark my two-year anniversary.Last Friday.I'm exhausted.This week, taking a long-awaited break.

BlackGirlnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32858889.post-55610105577123194892008-07-13T16:57:00.012+02:002009-02-01T21:19:49.331+01:00

This no-internet-at-home business is done. After 17 days without access I'm throwing in the towel and calling the phone company tomorrow. I've not been very pleased with the side effects of the experiment:To catch up on personal email or to Skype home I stay at work till late—I'm talking even-the-security-guards-have-gone-home-late, exiting-the-building-with-my-ID-card-late,

BlackGirlnoreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32858889.post-66584097926809499832008-07-06T18:58:00.003+02:002009-02-01T21:20:14.259+01:00

A new personal experiment: How long can I exist without internet in my new apartment?!When I moved to Prague I was happy to live without a television. Cutting off the tube habit was painless since wandering the streets of Prague was more entertaining than staying indoors glued to BBC or Skynews or dubbed American shows. In those early days, I imagined that tv-free living would translate into more

BlackGirlnoreply@blogger.com9