Humpolec is quite literally in the middle of nowhere, Czech. And our Fulbright commission opted to have this as the location of our midyear event. It was cold, snowy, small, and I loved it. It is about equidistant between Praha and Brno, 2+ hours from each. I was already in Praha doing research so I rode the bus from there just like a high school trip, with a privately charted bus filled with Fulbrighters.
The town has a small art mecca here in the middle of the countryside. A textile factory that had been taken from the family owners by the Soviets and renamed #8 as it was the eighth building, has been transformed into a fascinating contemporary art museum. There are many plays on the word “eight”. The number 8 in Czech is “osm” so they just replaced that part of the word with “8”.
The coat lockers were a hoot. I was proud of myself for remembering to actually look at which locker I put my coat in. Good thing I did because they are all #8 and you really do need to recall the location! We were able to walk into the old smokestack which they outfitted with a long string of lights giving it a dizzying effect when looking up it. And the staff room has a secret door. I learned this because while I was standing by the wall listening to someone giving a tour, the shelves beside me started to open and someone walked in from a whole new room behind it. They were all casual like this was no big deal. Not even a mention of it in the tour until I asked about it.
There were also art installments around town. One plan was to put something on the side of the building, below, which for the last 30 years had a painted message that said “space for rent”. When they wanted to rent it as a reason to install this art, the owner had to really think about whether it was available (!). So the message (template in the woman’s hand) says, “in vain”.
My hotel room in Hotel Fabrika had one entire wall that was floor-to-ceiling window. It was odd – bright which I loved, but I also felt like I was in a fishbowl. But it had a great view.
The midyear program at our little contemporary hotel was pretty fun. Lots of presentations and all of us older Fulbright Scholars were completely floored by the brilliance, creativity, and confidence of all the younger Fulbright English Teaching Assistants (ETA’s). Of course, it is a highly selective process. But wow, to be among so many talented breathtakingly intelligent people was awe-inspiring.
Lee and Emily led us in square-dancing which was terribly fun until I got motion sickness, because yes, I’m that pathetic. Our last evening we had a talent show in which we heard stories, jokes, played games, listened to music, and ended with fiddling and group singing “Country Roads” in Czech. Sounds hokey, but it kind of made many of us a little teary-eyed.
I probably will never go back here but I can’t wait to write about it on Trip Advisor and recommend it to others.
Adventures in the Czech Republic 
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