prague

i recently applied for the second time to wmu's prague summer program. this is the overview from the website:

The culmination of a decade of cooperation with Prague's Charles University, the Prague Summer Program offers writers, photographers and students of culture from a variety of backgrounds the opportunity to be mentored by some of the biggest names in contemporary English-language literature and world photography, as well as by luminaries of Central European culture. Past faculty and guests have included such literary talents as Ann Beattie, Marvin Bell, Mark Doty, Carolyn Forche, William Gass, Donald Hall, Edward Hirsch, Miroslav Holub, Mary Karr, Tracy Kidder, Carolyn Kizer, Ivan Klima, Sydney Lea, Philip Levine, Valery Martin, William Matthews, Christopher Merrill, Grace Paley, Jayne Anne Phillips, Francine Prose, Gerald Stern, Amy Tan, Jean Valentine, Michael Waters and many others.

The eager novice and the seasoned professional alike are mentored with equal seriousness and respect. For the month of July participants will be members of a unique and vital community of artists and students of art and culture. Unmarked by the wars and brutal occupations it has suffered, Prague is considered by many the most beautiful European city. If indeed Prague has been "the Left Bank of the '90s," as has been asserted in the world media, the Prague Summer Program has contributed significantly to that lofty designation.

this morning i found out i've been accepted and offered their john woods scholarship (this is where i do my happy dance). the aid only makes a small dent in the costs because the program is so awesome, but i think i might just be able to go this time. which i'm not sure how to react to. i've wanted to go since i found out about it 4 years ago.