Oh, So I Am a Little Early...

Hi Everyone, Hard to believe this is the last day of 2006! Besides it being New Year's Eve it is also Sunday. I got up and headed off to church. I don't live too far from where the Brno Fellowship church worships. It is about a ten minute walk up a good size hill. This was my first time on my own in trying to find my way to church. I had been there on the 17th with Czech friends by way of their apartment and by public transportation. On this day, I had decided to walk from where I am staying and I had a pretty good idea which way I should go. The conditions were a little slippery but I carefully made my way there. Church starts at 9:30am so I was pleased that I made it there by 9:20am. I ran into a challenge though because nobody else was there! No cars, no sounds of people, and the door was locked. (In case your wondering I did go to the right place--I was positive.) I thought for a moment maybe they decided to hold services at the KVZ Student Center where they had their Christmas service. There are many people away not only for the holidays but also for the Student Conference which is being held out of town. I quickly sent a text message to Pastor Jirka (though he only knows a little english). I got on bus 39 and made my way to the center of town. From there I quickly figured out how to get to a certain square in which I could pick up Tram #1. I had been to the KVZ Student Center this past summer so I had an idea where it was. But I had never gotten there on my own from this direction. I was guessing a little on what tram stop to get off (the names all start to sound the same). I knew that later this evening there was to be a New Year's Eve party that the church was putting together at this KVZ location. I figured if nothing else it would be good practice for me to find this place. But I was really hoping to find the church service because I still needed to buy a ticket to the New Year's Eve party :) Well, I found my way without any problems. But again no sign of any cars, people and nobody around to let me in. I decided it was time to try and make my way home. That God and I had travelled enough looking for "church" and besides I was out of options. I did quickly text message my friend Bohumila to see if she knew where the church service was being held. As I waited for my 2nd and final tram to take me home, I got this text message from Bohumila; " Today is not church service, today New Year's Eve party at KVZ." At least I know how to get to KVZ and I did find out later that the church is expecting me even without a ticket but at 8pm not 10am--I just happen to use the morning to confirm no church service was taking place :)

My First Look at Czech Snow

This was the view from my bedroom window on Friday morning. My first look at Czech snow. Temperatures were in the low 20s but warmed up into the mid-30s causing the snow to start to melt. I did manage late in the afternoon to slip out the backdoor and make a few snowballs. I was home alone so I carefully found a way to take a picture of the first snowball that I've made in about 20 years. Doesn't it look like I am ready for a snowball fight?!

Cave Pictures

Top-Eliska at the back of the cave--it was too dark to go any farther
Middle--A view of the mouth of the cave--taken from inside the cave
Bottom--One of the people inside the cave explained that there was a drawing on the side of the cave's wall. All we could see was darkness. So, I aimed my digital camera and pressed down on the button--good thing my flash worked. I was surprised at how much of the drawing I got! Not bad for literally shooting in the dark at it :)

Let's Go Explore Czech Nature

Hi Everyone, One good way the Czechs work off all the sweets they eat during their 3 day Christmas Holiday (the 24th thru the 26th) is to go for a walk. The above picture was taken on the 26th in a garden of a castle. I hope you can make out the wildlife that was hanging out with us. We didn't want to scare them so we stood off in the distance. We were able to toss a few apples their way without disturbing them. This castle is located not too far outside of Brno. The host family I am staying with took me there by car.

Then on the 27th I spent the day with my friends, Jirka and Eliska. We put on many layers of clothes because the morning temperature was 23 degrees F. It was a bit nippy as you can imagine but Eliska let me borrow one of her winter jackets. I needed it during our 17 kilometer(10.5 mile) hike through the forest on mostly flat landscape. The highlight of the hike was seeing a small cave. I will post a few of the pictures that I took during our hike. There were plenty of wildlife to see during the hike. I learned the Czech vocabulary words for animals that we saw on our hike such as duck, sheep, goat, puppies and we even managed to see an ostrich! At times my mind gets tired of processing the czech language but I really enjoy spending time with the Czech families God has brought across my path!! I had a great time admiring the creation our God has created. Hope all is well and thanks for following along! Take care until next time...
Blessings,
Colleen

Sights of My Christmas

Top picture--My Czech Christmas Cactus in full bloom.
Middle--Opening presents with Jitka and the baby.
Bottom--Ana listening to her father read Luke's account of the Birth of Jesus.

You Want to Put What in My Bathtub?

Hi Everyone, I have a great story to share with you all. It has to do with a Czech Christmas Tradition. Keep in mind, I am living on the ground floor of a house where I have a kitchen, bathroom and bedroom all to myself. That was until this past Saturday when Dr Pavel (Paul), the owner of the home I am staying in, filled up my bathtub with water. As you can see the tub is a good size one and is a fairly new tub. The reason for the water so that the carp Dr Pavel's friend was bring over had a place to hang out. You see it is a Czech Christmas tradition to have fried carp for their Christmas dinner. Czechs celebrate Christmas on the 24th so in preparation for their main meal many Czechs buy live carp, place them in their bathtub before cooking and serving them up. I actually had not 1 but 5 carp swimming around my bathtub for 4 to 5 hours. The carp were being shared among 5 families (friends and relatives). Pavel's wife Jitka explained that this is a Czech tradition she has experienced since she was a little girl. For her it wouldn't be Christmas without seeing a carp swimming around in a bathtub. It was great fun to see the excitement and hear the Czechs asking to take a peek in my bathroom
to see the carp. For those who were wondering-- Dr Pavel and his friend took the fish out back to do the necessary preparations (cleaning etc). And believe it or not afterwards Pavel had a special cleaning substance that made the bathtub look as good as new. You couldn't tell that some carp had ever stopped by for a swim! :)

Take care until next time...
Blessings,
Colleen

Pictures of Czech Christmas Tradition

At the top--the Czech children first look at their Czech Tradition.
Middle-- The five carp getting comfortable in my bathtub.
Bottom--Which one will be our main course?

Brno At Christmas

Last night I met my Czech friend Eliska in the center of the city. She wanted to show me some of the Christmas sights of Brno. The above picture reveals everything there is to know about Christmas. The above Nativity scene is made out of wood and is quite beautiful. We tried to visit a few of the cathedrals but weren't able to because we spent too much time having tea and something sweet to eat. We had a wonderful time together. Eliska has agreed to help tutor me as I learn her native Czech language. We had my first lesson at the cafe. I must go study all the vocabulary words she wrote down for me. This morning I am meeting her husband, Jirka (George) for tea/coffee. He was one of my students at this year's English camp. I look forward to spending time with this sweet couple. After Christmas we are talking about going on a hike together, it should be alot of fun--I'm glad I packed my hiking boots :)

More of Brno During the Christmas Season

Top picture-- A Christmas tree in the center of the main square in Brno
Middle picture--A storefront all decked out with decorations
Bottom picture--A side of a building in the center of Brno

Departure and Arrival Pictures of the Season

The top picture was taken at the Tampa Airport the day I left--had to get that last image of a palm tree decorated in lights :) The second picture was taken the next day at the Prague Airport. Both airports revealed the Christmas season had arrived.

A Few Observations

Today as I got up I was thinking about the little things I like that are different here. One that makes me smile every morning and every evening is the bed I am sleeping in. For some reason I have never liked sleeping under a sheet (I think it is called a "top" sheet). Here in the place where I am staying my bed has no top sheet only a bottom sheet so I can quickly jump into bed and snuggle into the big comforter and drift peacefully off to sleep. Then in the morning because there is only one big comforter that basically lays only on the top of the bed I can quickly fluff the comforter & my pillow--the bed is made quickly & without any struggle!! (can you tell I never quite got the hospital corner technique down) I know it is such a small thing but it brings such joy to me :)

I must place a warning on my blog--as I get my mind to focus on Czech--I realize my English is already starting to suffer. Please forgive me if my grammar is not correct as I write this blog. Part of it is just my normal mistakes in not applying proper grammar rules and part of it is I am in the midst of learning another language :)

One social custom I like observing is on public transportation--buses, trams etc. It is expected that a person give up their seat to an elderly person, to a handicapped person and/or a mother with young children. I have had the pleasure of doing it several times. When I do it I stand and give a gesture to the seat and say "prosim" (or please). The person than thanks me and takes the seat while I look for something to hold onto as I stand waiting for my stop to come up. Olga my future roommate made an observation the other day while we were riding a tram together. She mentioned that I have picked up the Czech habit of heading to the exit a little early before the tram actually stops and opens its doors. I told her that is my natural tendency--I would rather be early and ready to jump off than be too late and miss my stop :)
I am noticing that there are some things that are just a part of my normal personality that fit in with the Czech culture.

In some ways God has equipped me well for the task at hand. And how about you--hasn't the same God equipped you well for what He has for you to do? I know I need to take more time to thank and praise Him for it! Take care until next time...
Blessings,
Colleen

Am I Really Here...

Hi Everyone, Ahoj--Greetings!! It has been 8 days since I arrived in Brno. Things are going well as I learn how to live in a different culture. Here's a few experiences I have had...

• The 3 flights over went smoothly no delays--amazing in itself :)
  
• My temporary apartment (flat) is very spacious & I was able to get settled quickly
• First dinner was at Bohumila & Mirek home. We had a traditional Czech dinner (breaded pork and sliced potatoes along with fruit dumplings for dessert) Everything was delicious! One of the highlights of the evening was seeing baby Tony for the first time. He is a chunk and has the round chubby cheeks you just want to kiss. He looks just like Bohumila did as a baby.
• Christmas sights and sounds are all around. I will try later to post some pictures of what Brno looks like at Christmas.
  
• The Czechs are spoiling me. They constantly want to give me food and more food. Or little gifts. I was afraid that I wouldn't have any gifts to open for Christmas--wrong I have several small gifts to open. I will open a few on Christmas Eve that is the day Czechs celebrate Christmas and I'll have a couple to open on Christmas Day, too!

The weather has been near freezing and once in a while dips into mid 20's. I handle it by wearing many--did I mention many :) layers of clothes. The other night the Czechs stood their watching me put on all my layers of sweaters and jackets. I asked what they were doing and they said they enjoyed watching me get ready to go outside. I also have a knit hat and a couple scarfs wrapped around me, too. I am nice and warm that is for sure. Thanks to everyone who gave or bought me a sweater, jacket or vest. I will continue to use them all--trust me!

A few of the challenges have been...

• I come to the Czech Republic and for the life of me I can't figure out how to unlock the front door of a house. Thank goodness I am starting to master how to do this. But the first full night I literally was outside not able to get in until the owner of the house came to my rescue. His neighbor called him to let him know I was having problems--I honestly was getting ready to ring the doorbell. ;) Unlocking a Czech door can be tricky!
  
• I still know how to walk in icy conditions without falling--my childhood memories of living in Ohio are rapidly coming back but it was a
  
• Good thing the other day I had so many jackets & sweaters on-- It helped cushion my fall when I tripped over a loose piece of sidewalk stone that made me stumble. I walked away with just a sore shoulder--no broken bones--Thank You Lord for your protection!

The greatest joy is just being here spending time with Czechs; riding the public transportation; and settling into the life God has for me! Many times I catch myself smiling and shaking my head after all this time I truly can't believe I am here--it is great!

Blessings,
Colleen