Meme - me

[vera_j]

Comment on this post asking for topics and I will give you 5 subjects/things I associate you with. Then post this in your LJ and elaborate on the subjects given.
vilakins  gave me these: archery, English, our village, vintage planes, favourite foods

Archery
I can remember my first meeting with archery, when I became a dedicated lover of everything connected with the Native Americans . Amerindians (First nations).I was a schoolgirl and there were films about Vinnetou and Old Shatterhand and I wanted to be like a brave Indian warrior. Apart from reading every available sources, making traditional decorations and being mocked at school for my dedication, I was given my first real bow. It was a plain wooden one for sport, my much older brother found it  in the cellar.
I was crazy, shooting in the townhouse yard, using self-made arrows which were crude. I was clumsy but read E.T. Seton ...mind you, I lived in a Czechoslovak Socialist Republic and this activity can´t just be encouraged! Oh, my family were very tolerant, poor darlings:-)
Well, and it was a year ago when I returned to my dream sport. I bought a light peofessional bow and arrows and I reallly enjoy myself. I am still considered a litle mad but some people went to watch me in a sand quarry and I earned  some respect.  I do archery for relaxation, I learn patiency, concentration and I can watch everything around because I do not disturb wildlife.

English
English must be  a kind of fate for me. I began studying it at  Gymnazium (Czech grammar school) and I was very bad at it - until I saw Zefirelli´s film Romeo and Juliet in original. I changed overnight! I wanted to really learn this beutiful language and I studied hard ( and put aside maths and physics ), writing new words and reading aloud. I am very grateful to my former English teacher, a very strict and conservative woman whom we called affectionately LADY. She forced us to read British and American literature, which was unheard in 70s. I passed my finals also with English. During my university studies I specialised at Czech language and literature and history but I visited the Language school privately to keep up my English. Later, I discovered Star Trek original series, and since then I have learned mostly thanks to reading. I have spent LOTS of money on books and mainly on the zines, TOS, B7, Sharpe, VHS, DVD, and you must know I am  absolutely happy to be here on LJ with you. Thank you all, my friends, for your kind encouraging me and teaching me and sharing with me!
I almost forgot - I got my present job thanks to English (I passed Cambridge Exams and exams for Czech teachers) and I am a proud librarian in English Library in our English Centre.

Our village
Oh. Our village is called Spolí and is situated in the south of Bohemia, in a unique countryside of man-made systems of fishponds and canals, residual wetlands and all this was declared the Biosphere Natural Reserve under the protection of UNESCO. The countryside is poor in industry however rich in natural beauty, historical sights and in history itself.
Spolí dates back to 13th century, there was a small fishpond nearby, and all belonged to a rich monastery in nearby town of Třeboň. Them the pond had been re-built in 1625 and now it is a large, 25ha water area which supplies a whole pond system beginning with Třeboň. They keep fish here, mostly our typical carp which became a symbol of the town.
Here there are 97 people, there are mostly old farm houses but also newer ones (our, for example) and newest ones -  luxurious residences of local RICH ones (hahahaha, sorry, we know each other so well). Yes, everyone knows everything, what you cook today, what linen you use, what new things you bought. The centre of gossip is in our local pub, of course. They closed our only shop, and we have to commute to work - I get up daily at quarter to 5 and go by bus to České Budějovïce about 20km. The road is unimportant and the transportation is poor. The village is lovely, clean, with that small shrine next to our house. I like it here very much, I avoid gossip, so I am a frïend with all. Still, I came from a town, and I have always been different. YES!!! :-)

Vintage planes
This is strange! I really like old planes. I can remember playing in an old small plane in the same yard I did the archery, I spent hour sitting inside and handling the knipple, making engine noise. But it was my dear brother, he took me to the cinema to all docummentaries about flying and planes and space, he had a magazine about planes and I loved the pictures and later read the stories about hero pilots. We have all Biggles books at home :-)
And I managed to get to Imperial War Museum in Duxford in England - I just begged a guide to drop me there for two hours with four eager senior plane fans. It was GORGEOUS, I saw the oldest planes some still flying, the Operation rooms and everything possible!
I also received a short flight as a birthday present from my children - and I loved it!

Favourite foods
This is a very dangerous topic! I am not sure how much you do know about Czech cuisine? It is delicious, VERY nutricious and quite unhealthy. I can tell you my favourites:
Fried carp, roasted duck, roasted wild duck, beef slices with onions, beef sirloin with cream sauce, pancekes with fresh strawberries and whipped cream, fruit dumplings ( filled with plums, or strawberries, or apricots) with quark, potato puree with sauerkraut called "kočičák"and home-made smoked ham, potato soup with wild mushrooms, any meat. I like cooking, I like French cuisine but my husband is a tradicionalist and orthodox Czech eater, so I have to follow hos lead:-)
I love Italian food, pasta. I love FOOD and all foods!