Short Summary of My Week...

Hi Everyone, Wow--it is Saturday--where did the week go. I am doing well. I got some things accomplished the last few days. Here is an idea of some of the things I did:

• Tues.- found and dropped off 4 important documents that need to be translated from English into Czech. These documents will be used for when I apply for my work permit/visa process. Also, worked on orientation project--pricing things at the outdoor market.
  
• Wed.- I started to become familiar with a new neighborhood--there is an apartment that Olga and I will probably move into sometime this month. I will share more about this in an upcoming blog--pictures to be included.
• Thur.-Each day I do some Czech language study. Today I spent several hours with my language helper. We went over basic sounds and simple phrases. I have a lot of good homework to do.
  
• Fri.-spoke to translation company my paperwork was ready for pick up. I managed to swing by and pick up the paperwork. Then I spent the afternoon exploring the center of the town. I am trying to go in different directions and get familiar with the names of the streets. It started to drizzle so I didn't take pictures like I had planned to.
  

The funniest thing that happened-- On Thursday, I offered to run an errand for my host family. The children had been sick for several days and Jitka asked if I would go to the grocery store to pick up a few things. I had her write down the things she wanted me to get and I thought I knew where the store was. It is easy to miscommunicate when people speak the same language--well let me tell you--it is even easier to not communicate properly when people speak different languages. I walked up the street thinking-- I must get on Tram#4 and go somewhere. That is what I perceived when in actuality what I was told in Czech was that the store was "near" Tram 4 not that I needed to ride it. I did find a store to go in but I could tell it wasn't the right one & it didn't have exactly what I was looking for. So I bought nothing came back to Jitka explained I missed understood. I learned important lesson--make sure I have her cell number in my phone; have the name of the store written down and be sure to clarify over and over. I told Jitka not to worry I would find the store and get what was needed--I just was practicing on what not to do. That is how I must look at my challenges. Later that day after my czech lesson I did find the right store--earlier I had been just a few feet from it but I was looking in the wrong direction. I was looking down the hill past the tram stop--when the store sits back from the tram stop :) God wants to help but sometimes I am too quick trying to figure it out and I need to s l o w down and ask more questions to be sure of what I am to do. Have you ever run into that in your life?? Sorry no pictures--I'll get some posted soon--I promise. Take care until next time.

Blessings,
Colleen