Frankly, I don't like change of any sort. I mentioned that little fact about myself (and if I were being honest, might say I mentioned that in a petulant sort of way) at the last PTA meeting and a couple of the moms ... tittered ... at me. Nicely, of course. They weren't being mean. But, it's true. Despite appearances, by which I mean, third country in three years sort of appearances, I don't like moving.
Right now, we are packing for our summer holiday, and have a plan to move to Vienna in about six weeks. So, I am also packing packing to move. Unfortunately, that moving plan includes a "move-out" date on our current, beautiful house in Brno, but does not include a move-in date in Vienna.
So, change. We have a lot. And look! Since I've been packing, here's a recent collection: 
This lot has been collected from the dryer, trouser pockets, dresser tops, under beds, between the cushions of the couch. You know, the places where change accumulates. It includes coins from Thailand (easy to id because they all have the profile of the King on them), US (mostly recognizable), Hungary, UK (Queen!), Czech Republic and, well, a slew of unidentified "others." All are are traceable when you have the internet at your fingertips, but, at the moment, I don't really have time to track them all down.
There are two, though, that I shall highlight:
This one is from Moldavia, the Happiest Country in the World. Ha! Kidding. Moldavia is actually the unhappiest country in the world, if you believe Eric Weiner, author of Geography of Bliss. <--not a terribly interesting or insightful book, so I don't recommend it.
But, the coin. This coin is not a coin at all, of course, but a slug. In order to understand the hows and whys of its acquisition, you must know about these:
Shopping trollies. All carts for all grocery stores (and Ikea!) around here, come with these little money chain devices that require you to insert a coin to release the trolley for personal use. When you are finished shopping and have placed your groceries (or your new living room furniture!) in the back of your car, you return the trolley to a trolley stand, insert the chain and retrieve your coin. Generally, we're talking 5 to 10 koruna, so something like twenty five to fifty US cents.
One day, when I was new to the CR, I finished grocery shopping and as I left the mall with my groceries in my trolley, I stopped at the sports store. You can't bring a loaded grocery trolley into a sports store, so I left it just outside, and kept a careful eye on it. Their was a dude who hovered around it a bit, but mine was not the only cart out there, and there were a few of us watching the dude, so I wasn't overly concerned. I bought what I required, and headed out, only to discover that hover dude had swapped out my 10 koruna coin for this slug! Seems like a lot of work and high potential for disaster for fifty cents, but, hey, my life is not dedicated to crime, so maybe I just don't get it.
And then there's this one:
Why US coins only warrant a "mostly" recognizable. When exactly did this happen? And, point number two, not illustrated, but I think you will understand the point: my children have a hard time recognizing US quarters because, ALL OF THE BACKS ARE DIFFERENT. They don't get it. And, frankly, I'm not sure I do either.
Change, change, change. It's coming. And I'm about as ready as I ever am.
Ah, well. If nothing else, I can use a loo in about thirty different countries.
The nickel changes didn't get nearly as much press as the quarters. I gotta say, though, I love all the different state/territory quarters. Especially since they now have national landmark ones, and I got a mint condition Mount Hood. Which *still* makes me all smiley and bouncy and it has been a couple months. :)
That's an awesome first pic, though. What a cool way to look at your past several years. :)
Posted by: Gwynna | June 29, 2011 at 08:52 PM