PEOPLE OF SOUTH

My name is Lukas Prochazka. I came from Slovakia. As of the year 2012/2013 I was an exchange student, I was living in Heber Springs, Arkansas. I want to show you the people living here, I’ve seen a lot of strange and weird individuals, and also just simple people with interesting stories that I would like to share with everyone. Why people you ask? It’s simple. People are the most valuable objects to photograph. They have life stories, experiences, everyone is different and everyone is special in their own way. I want to show people how everyone is unique, and that I care to listen even if no one else does. Contact me at: [email protected]

[lukaspp]

Grand Canyon

I almost tottaly forget pictures from Grand Canyon that we went on Spring Break. It was a week long great trip. I saw Oklahoma,Texas,Nex Mexico and Arizona states that we went trough. Grand Canyon is just magnificent. I tottaly love it. 

Arizona welcome center

Indian cashier in Indian store where I bought my dreamcatcher

I guess this guy got a electric shock 

This guy just has to be from Texas...that mustache...

Our tour guy with lot of funny and interesting stories and legends about Grand Canyon

Sedona. Around this area should be some magnetic field that has healing ability, I didn't feel anything.

Grand Canyon-paradise for retired people.

Sunset was just beatiful, even it was little bit nippy and my cheecs turn red, just the looking at grand canyon and fastly going down sun made me warm. 

[lukaspp]

World Changers Continues

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=enAwHWi8JVk

[lukaspp]

Home

On the 15th of July I flew from Arkansas back home to Slovakia. The actual journey took me more than 24 hours. Don't you worry, 'Murica. I'll find my way to you again. But now one chapter of my life has ended. And a new one is starting...

[lukaspp]

Garage Sales

Garage sales are a huge thing in America. The US is known for greedy people, who will do just about anything for money. Garage sales are full of people’s old junk and the goal of these sales is to make money off of the junk. It's as the saying goes “One man’s trash is another man’s treasure”. I personally love garage/yard sales, flea markets, consignment shops, second hand stores and thrift shops. You can sometimes find treasures you can’t find in stores. My passion are old cameras. People running garage sales or thrift shops usually don’t even know what they are selling or how much to ask for the items in their hands. But that's a good thing for me.

And here I present you all the cameras I bought on garage sales.

[lukaspp]

Home

This is Carlos. He's from Germany. He was an exchange student for the last 11 months in Arkansas along with me. 7/9/2013 he flew home to Germany. He had been my little German brother. We'd lived together. He left behind an empty room with a pair of his dirty socks inside and a void space in our hearts. I wish you best luck Carlos Muelhaus.

Check in the luggage. Ready to say the last goodbye. Give the last hugs. The exchange program is...over.

Bye bye.

[lukaspp]

My 4th of July

[lukaspp]

Texas #2

An older generation suffering from the younger generation's technology?

A woman from Washington. 

US-Mexico border officer. 

Baywatch

Waiter 

Kiss the sun.

Spurs fan 

[lukaspp]

Mike

[lukaspp]

Gas station

[lukaspp]

Mr.Charlie

[lukaspp]

Clinton's Library

I had an opportunity to visit Bill Clinton’s Library in Little Rock. Bill Clinton was the president of the United States of America from 1993 to 2001. He's from Arkansas and its citizens are truly proud of it. The Library is quite large and I bet it was quite expensive too.

On a daily basis people and students from all across the States come to visit the Library.

A building like the presidential Library can't be missing a policeman or a security guard.

These pictures are displayed in Clinton’s Library. They were taken by Herman Leonard and are very valuable for their uniqueness. They show the history of jazz from the early 40's all up to the 60's. I love these kinds of pictures. They aren't just some random snaps, these are pictures that capture history. I also learned Bill Clinton likes jazz and blues.

Little Rock is quite a big city and definitely busy. I could tell just by walking on the street and finding the majority of people working.

[lukaspp]

This lady was very kind and surprisingly excited when I told her I'm from Slovakia. "Oh, Yugoslavia...how long have you been here?" she asked. Well yes. Too many people misunderstand me or take everything I say the wrong way. I guess I should work on my pronunciation and accent a little :)  

[lukaspp]

Rooster Games

Mr. Harry discovered his passion for cockfighting when he was about 20 years old when his friend gave him a hen and a rooster. One day he took his rooster to a cockfight. And it got into his blood just like any other sport would. As of today Mr. Harry has been in the cockfighting game for over 50 years. However, Mr. Harry only has 7 roosters and two fights left to the end. I was there just when the roosters were preparing for their next game. They were resting in an air-conditioned room. For breakfast and supper they were fed a meal full of proteins to gain strength. His wife carefully prepared grains, bananas, apples, carrots, and boiled liver. The very last state that allowed cockfighting was Louisiana. People came from all over the US to engage in cockfighting. To say it was a big deal would be an understatement. The huge was stadium crammed to the top, blinding reflector lights shone up the center, announcements coming from the speakers vibrated throught the air just like the anticipation of the cheering fans. The main reason why the government wanted to end legal cockfighting was because they thought it was way too cruel. Mr. Harry disagrees with the statement and says it's the natural behaviour of the feathered creatures. He doesn't train them. It’s in their blood. They are born to be competitive.

They fight until death. 

[lukaspp]

MEMORIAL DAY

To those who don’t know what Memorial Day is, it’s an American holiday when people remember soldiers and people who died in wars and battles. And also the people, who served their country and were willing to die for it. I had an opportunity to listen to Chaplain in the church who served twice in Iraq and is going to Afghanistan in a couple of months. He said this holiday was really important because we give respect to those who have fought for our freedom. He also said the reason why America has so many enemies is because it has freedom. Not only is that true, but US people are very united. They remember those who have died by wearing patriotic clothes or miniature national flags. I took a couple of pictures in Wal-Mart, which by the way is my favorite place to find the type of people I am looking for.

[lukaspp]

SPRING-FEST

The smell of fresh pop corn and various foods, lots of fun for kids, colorful booths full of things you don’t need but still want anyway. That's how probably every festival all over the world (including my country) looks like. A festival called Spring-Fest took place in Heber Springs just this weekend. The name of the festival would have to be rather symbolic this year since, unfortunately, the last days were too cold and rainy for a typical warm, blooming spring, what definitely influenced the number of people attending the festival. Though I met a lot of familiar faces. That’s because Heber Springs is a small city with few great happenings so when a festival like this popps up, everybody's there. 

This man looked very interesting and I wanted to ask him how he was doing and possibly chat for a while but he seemed rather busy and I didn’t really want to disturb him. Maybe he woudl've forgotten how the pop corn was made or even where he was. That’s how it is when you grow old. 

A butterfly? Yup. A butterfly. Seriously. There was a stand with butterflies. You could go inside and walk around and maybe even fly with them. Well, I don’t know what for. Maybe they were of a special race that could heal you or something like that. 

A simple man selling his chimes.

[lukaspp]

FRIDAY PEOPLE

These are some of the people I met on Friday. A guy standing by the road with his 3-cycle bike, sleepy head in Walmart, and a very kind country man.

[lukaspp]

BUS DRIVER?