St. Mikulas, I Owe It All To You

Okay, I'm running around the world so this is kind of like when they tape the late night show early...I wrote this a few weeks ago for the time when you want something new and I just don't have the energy to write it. Happy New Year!

I was little bit worried about this holiday season. For the last week now, wooden stalls put up all over Prague have been selling delicious holiday treats. I had no idea how much I love holiday treats until I have the option of drinking mulled wine on every street corner of the city. There are these things called Trdlo (no spelling error there) Trdlo is like if you were to roast cookie dough over a fire until it is lightly toasted and then roll it in cinnamon sugar. It might be the most delicious thing in the world. But these aren’t the only Prague stall temptations. There are people roasting hunks of meat all over the city. Now, for those who don’t know, I’m not a huge red meat carnivore. HOWEVER, these meat spits have been calling to me every day since they rolled up their wooden doors. The other night I finally succumbed to my first sausage…only to burn the roof of my mouth. It blistered immediately. And that was why I was worried about the holiday season. Bad omen blister.

However, I believe the blister was nullified by the amazing St. Mikulas party that occurred at FAMU. I was told days before that I absolutely could not miss this party. School tradition! Well, so far these school traditions are pretty interesting, so sure. I have been to numerous school hosted events throughout my life but I don’t think any of them topped this one. The party started at 8 pm with a potluck in our respective departments. THEN, when everyone was properly lubricated they started wandering the halls to different departments. There was a karaoke machine on the second floor, a DJ on the third, screenings on the first, and in each corner of the school there were kegs, bottles of wine and food. People look forward to getting trashed at this party every year and I must say this year was quite successful. I have never danced until 4 a.m. at my place of learning. The school got wrecked! At one point I took my heels off and the entire floor was sticky with beer and who knows what else. I put them back on. Mind you this is usually the “computer area.” I went home around four with some serious reprimands from my still partying professors. It took some negotiating getting through the building as the entire four floors were packed with people- students talking in the classrooms, smoking on the stairs, dancing in the corridors, making out in dark corners. The party went on until 7:30 a.m. The title of this post refers to a moment on the dance floor when “I’ve had the time of my Life” was played. A Dirty Dancing moment that I don’t think would fly at any other film school. But indeed I happily danced and sang along with all of my respected colleagues. I can’t say more about the evening, what happens at St. Mikulas party stays at St. Mikulas party.