7 things that have surprised me lately

1. People you meet.....
Today a man approached me on the street and said "Excuse me, can I ask you a question?"
Me: Sure
Him: Hi, are you from here? I'm doing some work here in Prague. I'm from Italy originally but I work here and in Amsterdam. I have to say... you are very beautiful and I was wondering if you'd be interested in doing some modeling work.
Me: (Super skeptical) Ummm. I don't know. What did you have in mind?
Him: Just a short video.
Me: What kind of video?
Him: Oh, just women's underwear. You're very beautiful. I think you'd be great
Me: !!!!!!! (no, thank you!...)

(Some people are crazy! ha)

2. People you see....
Sufjan Stevens, for instance. I don't even have words to explain how amazing his performance in Leipzig was this weekend. And it was on my birthday, too! Couldn't have been more perfect!

That man is absolutely talented and I was overwhelmed with every single detail he'd thought through - from the lighting, graphics, dancers, costumes, balloons, everything. I have seen him perform in Athens, Georgia for his "Come on Feel the Illinoise!" tour... Grand Rapids, Michigan at the Festival of Faith and Music... and Brooklyn, New York for the premier of his BQE film... and honestly, I think in my life there will never be a better performance than his Age of Adz tour. Plus, to know it was all for the glory of God was so encouraging and inspiring. Hallelujah, brother!

3. People you love
Friends and family who you can trust to be true. Who still make mistakes, but try their best to love you and show you they care, despite your own shortcomings. (And thank you for all the birthday wishes on facebook and in person, btw + all of you who made it out to my birthday party last night. It was good! Also, a special thanks to Kamila for driving me all the way to Leipzig and back this weekend for Sufjan Stevens. You are a true friend, girl! 4am in the morning getting home.. absolutely hardcore but so special and worth it to me!)

4. Witch-burning
Yes, that's right. Witch burning....

Here in Czech Republic there's a holiday on April 30th where they traditionally burn witches (although now they just have a big bonfire and dress in black and wear witch hats). It's honestly a little disturbing/scary to me, but it's their way of celebrating the end of winter. You can read more here, if you want.

5. A bowl of tea
Today I found the best new coffee shop tucked away on Korunni Street. It's actually a tobacco shop and Kavarna (coffee house), but I love it because most people just walk by and don't notice it. Or they walk in the store, see the tobacco, postcards and knick-knacks, think there's nothing more and then just dismiss it and walk away. But another careful look and you'll see a discreet door leading to the back, where there's old wooden tables, big glass windows and cozy places to read, write and enjoy a good cup of coffee/tea.

I ventured further through the kavarna to find a courtyard, enclosed among tall, old brick buildings. I loved being able to sit out there and write in the sunshine. Needless to say, though,  when I ordered the Masala Chai... she brought me a GIGANTIC BOWL full of it. I was shocked... I asked "This is tea, right?" and she said "Yes" like it was absolutely normal to serve tea like this. I had to laugh, but it was the best tea I've had yet in Czech. So yeah, go check out Dobra Trafika. It's my new favourite.

6. International Pillow Fight Day
I have nothing to say, except "AWESOME"

7. Liva's birthday
We had a HUGE FOOD fight! Complete with whipped cream, yoghurt, ketchup, flour, poppy seeds, eggs, and more. It was insane!

Jumping back in

It's been 2,586 years since I've updated this blog, but I feel the need to begin again today.

I'm not exactly sure how to do this since so much has happened since I last wrote. I guess the Cliff Notes version is I'm now living in Prague, teaching grades 1-6 at a Czech public school.

It's definitely been a change from the small, laid-back spa-town I was living in previously, but I'm happy here and enjoying all the cultural opportunities and international people I'm meeting here.

I really love:
-The students I'm teaching
-My coworkers and boss
-My roomates
-The flat where I'm living
-The friends I've made here
-And the things that I feel God has been teaching me

I'm still in shock actually at the way He has completely taken care of me here. When I first moved to Prague, though, it was absolutely scary....

Some of you know my situation with the flat that was arranged for me, but let's just say I arrived to a dimly-lit building with the front door bashed in where someone had broken in. The inside was covered in graffiti, it reaked of urine and homelessness and there were grocery carts throughout the building where people were squatting and not paying rent. It was definitely an interesting experience, especially with no fridge, stove, washing machine or furnishings, but after living there a month... God totally hooked me up with a flat in the center of Prague with 3 amazing flat mates....

Hannah, Her Mom, Me, Our friend Kristen

Me and Megan

My flat-mate Liva and I

Hannah, my roomate, is from Florida and she's teaching English here, too, while conquering the adventures of belly dancing and baking amazing treats. My flat-mate, Megan is from Seattle and she's pursuing acting and dance. Liva is our outgoing Latvian flat-mate and she's studying script-writing at FAMU, the film school here. I've really enjoyed living with them and feel blessed that we are able to share such an incredible flat together. We've hosted some fun film nights, international potlucks, Jungle Speed sessions and more. It's been a wild ride, but I wouldn't trade it for anything.

As for my students, they continue to amaze me. I love all the different ages and the unique perspective that each of them brings. Nowhere else have I seen such enthusiasm and creativity. They are really sweet, too. "Miss Kellyyyyyyyyyy!" I hear every morning as Jirka, one of my first graders, comes running down the hall as fast as his little legs will carry him to hug me. There are days when it's rough and the students are hard to handle, but when you see their smiling faces or the glimmer in their eyes when they're encouraged/inspired/getting it, you remember why you are doing this and I love it.

Anyway, I actually have to do some lesson planning now before I go enjoy the sunshine. I hope this note finds you well and full of life, too :)

Love,
El

I don't want to set the world on fire...

...I just want to start a flame in your heart."

Czech Republic continues to burn bright in my eyes. Since I last updated I've:
• become a partaker of the public health system here (Visited the hospital already! Thanks, Mr. Bronchitis)
• crossed the German/Czech border and watched the sunset there
• explored the Czech Switzerland National Park
• hiked to the largest natural stone bridge in Europe
• ridden a gondola in the beautiful Hřensko wonderland
• frolicked through Teplice's botanical garden
• delved into AniFest 
  
• cheered on the Czech Pro Cycling Tournament
• picked my first fruit ever in the Czech countryside
• eaten liver and raw beef
• tasted my first yellow watermelon and papaya
• protested the sale of Disko cookies (not really, but they are evil addictive things! haha)
• experienced the Lazenska Sezona crazyness
• run the Kings Trail in Bilina and the route up to the castle, Doubravka
• had my first Eurovision experience
• learned how to play Touch Footie
• trecked on foot from Krupka to Teplice
• danced til the wee hours singing 80s songs with the principal of one of the Czech schools I work for and some of our coworkers/friends
  
I feel like I've been around the world and back, but what matters more to me than any of these events and happenings is the people I spent them with. And if you're reading this right now and I know you, know that I'm glad for that, even if we've only spoken or hung out a few times.  
I am terrible about staying in touch, but I think of friends and family a lot and all the people I'm blessed to cross paths with. I believe that nothing is by chance and I'm thankful for every minute of this life we have. I wish I had some profound words to say to you right now.. but I don't :) Just know that you are loved....

Golden wrapper of truth

It's true - I have a weakness for dark chocolate and the little silly messages/quotes that are on the backs of the gold wrappers that often contain it......

Sometimes it's a load of junk, but today the first piece I opened made me stop:

"Let your light shine... the world is watching"

Echo echo echo. I heard someone tell me this very same thing recently when I had a conversation about blending in here in Czech Republic. This person told me that no matter how good my Czech gets or how much I adapt to Czech customs/styles/etc, people still notice me and they are watching me....

And truth be told - he was right. Two different days I had a student come up to me and point to her smile and say "happy happy. Ellen, you are happy" and the vice principal (who's never spoken a word to me before) even stopped me and laughed, saying "Are you happy? You look happy."

Now before you start thinking "Wow, Ellen. Good for you" I have to be honest: not every grin means I'm happy :-P lol. Sometimes I smile because I'm nervous or up-to-no-good or because it's automatic. But it just goes to show - people do notice you - whether you realize it or not... or whether you want them to or not... and it's important that we not only put our best foot forward (so to speak), but live authentically too.

I'm not saying we have to smile all the time (I think if we did, people might think we have mental problems haha). No, but I do think we should strive to encourage others - not just through words, but actions and facial expressions and everything else we have within our reach. It's crazy how contagious moods or emotions or feelings can become. (I don't know if I'm making any sense here at all, but maybe you know what I mean?)

I'm just sayin.... let your light shine, friends, in whatever way you know how... or whatever that looks like for you. It makes a difference, and we all need it (I think).

Love,
El

Be Still and Know

This past week I managed to check a couple things off:
1. Getting in trouble with the police, and
2. Becoming ridiculously ill from meat I'd eaten

Regarding numero dos, I think I might become a vegetarian around here. (haha. seriously!) As for the latter, it's worked out now. (Apparently you should always carry your official passport with you and not a copy instead! ha. Whoops!)

Mmmmm, but I have been thinking about some things. A lot of people have been asking me how long I plan on staying here in Czech Republic, and to be honest... I really don't know. It's strange to me - I've always been the kind of person who's had all these goals and plans and things all figured out, but for once in my life I don't and I am learning to just BE and ENJOY THE MOMENT and not try to understand or predict or plan everything.

I'm learning that my future is not dependent on these To-Do lists and goals I set for myself (not that those are bad things - I think they can be good!) But we are all part of a much bigger plan that we don't know yet(and I'm not sure we could comprehend even if we did know it.)

It's OK to just BE STILL and KNOW that everything has a purpose, a place and beauty in it. We can trust that we are exactly where we should be... right here... right now...and though things can/do change, life continues... It's all part of the plan.

7 Things I've learned recently

#1. Asking another teacher about words you've heard your students say, particularly "hovna" (and other such polite terms) may cause reddening of the face.

#2. Just because it says "mleko" (milk), doesn't mean it tastes like the milk in America.

#3. Political rallies are serious here: orange tokens, cheap beer, big sausages, and women on stage singing "Pink Cadillac" in English! lol.

#4. It may be a good idea to not wear a skirt when you're on a train and the windows are down. haha.

#5. Bright red is the new black for hair color, even with 60 year old women.

#6. Your soccer coach may ask you if you'd like to smoke with him after you've just run 800 miles.

#7. Coffee doesn't exist (in the coffee shops here)... only espresso!

Yes, but all this to say:
I still love it here. I might be crazy. I might sound ridiculous. I might blend in very easily ::coughs:: And I might still crave spinach, sweet potatoes and Chik Fil-A. But I'm well on my way to learning more Czech, walking/running 2,457 miles a day, and supporting the consumption of goulash + potatoe dumplings ;)

Love,
El

ps.
Thanks for the birthday messages many of you sent! So sweet! My coworkers and I had some amazing Indian food in the neighboring town, Usti Nad Labem, and we made sure to celebrate my rising maturity in the proper manor - animal face masks, balloons, ice cream (at the pub) and going to bed super early! ha

America to you

I am presenting "America" to some Czech students this Monday, but I'm finding it a bit tricky since every region, state, city, person is (or can be) so different.

In some ways I just want to pop in an Anchorman DVD and be like "AMERICA!" just to see what their reactions are haha, but I suppose I should be a LITTLE more accurate ;)

I like how Frank Sinatra sings it in The House I Live In:
What is America to me?
A name, a map, or a flag I see?
A certain word, "democracy"?
What is America to me?

The house I live in, a plot of earth, a street
The grocer and the butcher, and the people that I meet
The children in the playground, the faces that I see
All races and religions, that's America to me

The place I work in, the worker by my side
The little town or city where my people lived and died
The "howdy" and the handshake, the air of feeling free
And the right to speak my mind out, that's America to me

The things I see about me, the big things and the small
The little corner newsstand and the house a mile tall
The wedding in the churchyard, the laughter and the tears
The dream that's been a-growin' for a hundred and fifty years

The town I live in, the street, the house, the room
The pavement of the city, or a garden all in bloom
The church, the school, the clubhouse, the millions lights I see
But especially the people
That's America to me

Hmmm. I'd love to hear your thoughts on what America is to you (or what you consider American):)