This year in Prague

As the school year has officially ended for the summer and I am looking forward to some good sunshine, friend and family time back in the states.... I wanted to stop a moment and reflect on this past year here in Prague.

It has been an incredible learning experience for me and I've enjoyed being on this journey of teaching Czech kids, working with some incredible hostels/design hotels, living with great girls, and knowing some pretty wonderful people here.

I've definitely had some rough times, especially with visa and with my recent trips to the hospital for GastroEndoscopy, but I think I will be OK legally and health-wise, and I'm thankful for having such affordable healthcare here.

Here are some highlights of the year for me:

Sufjan Stevens in Leipzig, Germany

• Digging deeper into the Czech school system and learning more about how state schools here work
  
  
• Having the opportunity to teach 285 students from 19 different classes in grades 1-6 (and attempting to navigate all the newness and learning that can be!)
  
  
• Revisiting Litoměřice and Teplice and hanging with old friends there
  
  
• Roadtripping to Germany to see Sufjan Stevens with Kamila
  
  
• Celebrating my birthday in  Litoměřice with Petr and Betka and discovering the art of other people's self portraits ;)
  
  
• Going to Copenhagen and absolutely falling in love with everyone and everything there
  
  
• Learning more about Korean culture and getting to know the 4 Korean families I teach during the evenings
  
  
• Throwing parties at our flat here (personal favourite was the International Dinner Party we had! But also loved Film Nights, too)
  
  
• Rafting in Český Krumlov for 7 hours and discovering a "Drive In" Mojito Bar haha
  
  
• Learning that there's so much I don't know still, but it's OK - I'm humbly learning and growing and going with the flow of life and all its surprises and adventures
  
  And I'm grateful, so grateful for friends and family and for everyone I've met while living here. I know this isn't goodbye cause I'll be back in Prague in August to work again, but for now: 
  
  Čau, Czech Republic. Hello America!
  

Strike, you're out

This morning I woke up to an eerie repetitive whistling noise that I couldn't quite place my finger on. I kept thinking it must be the windows rattling or some janked up car, but the sound got louder and louder until I realized - it's the strike.

Yes, today marks the official full-out public transportation strike here in Prague. No metro.... very limited trams... and yelling/whistles everywhere.

I guess we really do live in the center of Prague because the march came right up in front our building near the tram stop and across the street to Karlovo Nameste metro. Megaphones, police cars, flags and whistles you could hear from miles away - almost like wimpering ghosts crying off in the distance.

As I watched the faces of the people marching, holding flags, and blowing whistles, I couldn't help but get choked up. I had no idea what they were saying in Czech, but I could feel the passion behind their words and see the determination and for some - desperation in their eyes. I thought of my grandfather as I saw all the old men marching (Czech has proposed the new retirement age for them is 70)... I saw their families firmly supporting them and marching with them. And it made me think: Is there anything I feel so strongly about that I'd march and potentially lose my job, get arrested or maybe even get killed?

I know there is, but it's definitely moving to see sites like this. It reminds you of what you're living for and what you care about, and ultimately - where your heart is.....

<3

one of the few tram drivers actually operating at this time

the view from our window (before it reached our building)

I know

 “The Sun of Righteousness shall arise with healing in His wings”  (Mal. 4:2).

I've seen (and spoken with) a lot of hurt and lonely people in Czech lately and it breaks my heart. There is hope and He's not so far away....

I pray that you see that soon... and your cup is filled....

<3