Czech-in' Out

Well, I guess this is it! My bags are packed, the apartment's cleaned, and my passport's in my backpack (I quadruple-checked - don't worry).

It was really sad to say good-bye to all of my students yesterday. The day was a flurry of  long hugs and handmade cards. A few of my favorite moments:

• After I said good-bye to the second grade class, one of the girls wrapped herself around my legs and hung on me for about five minutes. I finally had to pry her off of me when it became clear she wasn't planning to let go anytime soon. 
• When I told the fourth grade class that this was the last time I would teach them, they all started booing and (fake) crying. They gave me an uncomfortably long group hug after class and continued to beg me to stay. 
• One of the fifth graders, Filip, came up and hugged me for a realllllllly long time after class. Getting a drawn out hug wasn't so unusual today, but Filip is usually such a stinker in class. Despite his misbehavior (or maybe because of it), he's one of my favorites. I hope my next students are as wonderful as the ones I had here!

I can't believe that after looking forward to this trip for so long, it's already over. This has been a wonderful adventure, and I am so grateful for all of the experiences I've had. I am so thankful that God has watched over me, led me to meet some wonderful people, and helped me grow as a teacher.

I need to catch my flight, so it's time to say good bye (or "na shledanou"). Good bye to my fellow teachers and new friends; good bye to my adorable, fun, and crazy students; good bye to the owners of the neighboring grocery store who are always so patient with me as I fumble with my money and mispronounce their language; good bye to all of the socks and sandals, gravy and dumplings; good bye to the school and city that have been my home for the past two months.

And good bye for now to you, reader. Thank you so much for following me on this adventure and keeping me in your prayers!

How are all of you? I'm sick of talking about myself. :)

Prague, Cathedrals, and the Blue Danube

I will officially be leaving in less than a week! Unbelievable. I knew the time would go fast here, but it honestly felt like I just got here.

This last week went really well. I taught three lessons a day and observed for the rest of the time. It was nice to have the luxury of putting a lot of time into preparing my lessons. Sarah from the international school (Riverside) in Prague observed me on Wednesday, and as before, she had great feedback, encouragement, and tips.

On Friday I made another visit to Riverside. My visit was wonderful. If I could teach anywhere, I would pick this school. I won't bore you with the teacher talk, but they are doing great things there! After school I went to Prague for a couple hours before heading home. I was really sad to go; I'm going to miss the easy access I've had to this city the past couple months.

On Saturday I visited Regensburg, Germany. I love what I've seen of Germany. The people are so friendly and everything - the cars, food, buildings - is so nice. Really great descriptive adjective, right? Let's just say that it contrasts quite dramatically with many parts of the Czech Republic. For example, in Plzen, I have learned not to smile at people on the street. In America, when I run by other runners or walkers, I always nod, smile, or say hi. But here? If anyone actually returns my eye contact, they definitely don't smile back. I was a bit wary when everyone was smiling at me in Regensburg on Saturday! Over-generalization? Perhaps, but there is definitely some truth to it.

It was a two and a half hour train ride from Plzen to Regensburg, and I happily read, looked out the window, and relaxed in my compartment. I spent about five hours in Regensburg, and it did not disappoint. It's beautiful - right on the Danube River, and there is an incredible cathedral there.

 Above: One-one hundredth of the cathedral. You'll have to take my word that the rest of the cathedral was pretty cool too!

A comment on the food: firstly, all of the food looked (and tasted) amazing. Secondly, everyone was eating gelato or ice cream, and practically every other person was eating a pizza - like a large 16 inch pizza - by him/herself. It looked pretty hilarious (and delicious).



Now that I'm starting to imagine going home, I'm getting really excited! I can't wait to see my family and friends and read the signs and know the ingredients in my food. :)

I am planning to write one more post at the end of this week to wrap up the blog. Can't believe the adventure is already coming to an end! Thank you for all of your thoughts and prayers. Have a wonderful week!

P.S. Pastor Petr gave me a book called "Dinner with a Perfect Stranger." It's an interesting premise and a very quick read. Highly recommended!

Teaching, Basketball, and Hot Mineral Water

I can't believe that October is just around the corner, and that I leave in less than two weeks! I'm sad that it's ending so soon, but I am excited to see my friends and family back in America. Again, this week flew by. Teaching went really well, and I felt more confident and relaxed each day.

Like I mentioned in my previous post, some of the adults I teach took me to see the U.S. women play the Czech Republic. I was probably the only person in the stadium without a Czech flag sticker on my face, but that's fine - I didn't look foolish after the U.S. beat them by 40 points. :) Despite the gap in the score, I had so much fun! I didn't realize how much I missed basketball until we sat down in the stadium. I haven't been too nostalgic since hanging up my jersey last spring, but I definitely felt twinges of sadness while I watched.

On Saturday I went to Karlovy Vary (aka Carlsbad). One of the teachers recommended I go there, but my expectations weren't too high. I'm happy to say I was proved wrong! Karlovy Vary is a famous spa town, and people come from all over to go in the thermal baths and drink the mineral water. The spa treatments are said to cure everything from diabetes to neurological diseases. I of course had to try the "miraculous" mineral water, but I quickly found that hot semi-salty water isn't really my thing. I forced a couple sips before discreetly dumping the rest back into the fountain.

Above: Two of the thirteen fountains scattered throughout the city.

Besides exploring the city center, I hiked up a hill on the outskirts of the city and shopped a bit in the outdoor markets. I had a lot of fun, and I conked out on the two-hour bus ride home.

The fourth graders sang in church today, so the chapel was actually full - a stark contrast to the previous Sundays. It was nice to see, but also depressing to think that they probably won't be back.

I learned a sad statistic last week: The Czech Republic is the third least religious country in the world. Thirty percent of the people in the Czech Republic are atheists, compared to 31 percent in Japan and 47 percent in China. Please keep these people in your prayers!

Hope you are all having a wonderful weekend. Thank you for reading! Just a couple more blog posts to come...!

Below: A few snapshots from yesterday's excursion.

....And Exhale...

This week went unbelievably fast. It blurred by in a flood of lesson plans, several pots of coffee, and a few hours of sleep.

Although this week definitely had its stressful moments, it was one of the greatest weeks of my life. I feel more confident than ever about teaching. At the same time, I saw how much I have to learn.

Sarah (the teacher from the school in Prague) observed me on Wednesday. It was so good to get her perspective. After my lessons, we talked for about an hour about what I did well, my concerns, and how I can improve. I was really grateful to get her input, and I've been trying to implement some of her ideas and strategies.

I'm really loving my students. I taught grades 4-8 this week, and I like something different about each class. Right now, my favorite class is grade 7. I love that I can joke around with them and take a more relaxed approach. The fourth graders are definitely interesting too. When I taught them on Wednesday, I apologized to one of the girls because I mispronounced her name. After class, she came up to me, grabbed my face in her hands and said, "Miss Melanie, you can call me anything you want. If you want to call me a different name that's fine." She then proceeded to list names I could call her as she stroked my hair. Haha...Shortly after that, a boy named Sebastian gave me some of his candy bar and started burrowing his head into my stomach. Kids are so strange.

I taught the adults and did the after-school basketball program this week too. The basketball "practice" is pretty hilarious. There is one boy who just cracks me up. He doesn't even know which way to run down the court. Throw in a few more kids that have never played basketball and speak limited English, and it makes for an interesting hour. One girl told me that it was the best sport ever, though, so they must be enjoying something!

Unfortunately I'm not traveling anywhere cool this weekend. I have to get ahead for next week, so I'll be holed up in my apartment for a lot of the next 48 hours. After this next week, though, I'm going back to observing part-time, so hopefully I can get away next weekend. I would love to make it to Budapest, but we'll just have to see.

On Tuesday, some of the adults that I teach are taking me to a basketball game in Prague. The US women are playing the Czech Republic. Really kind of them! More incentive to work hard this weekend, too.

I'm going to the market today with Linda after we get some planning done. If you have a request for an authentic Plzen present, let me know! :)

In case you've been feeling overwhelmed (like I was this week), here's some encouragement. Hope you all have a good weekend!

Prague - I Can't Get Enough!

On Friday, I toured Riverside, the international school in Prague. Besides two Czech classes, everything is taught in English. Quite a relief to visit - it was like stepping into an English-speaking bubble. Most of the teachers have lived in Prague for five to ten years, and few of them know the language - definitely made me feel better about my tiny vocabulary! The school reminded me of an impressive American private school, complete with after-school activities like in-line skating and judo.

After my visit, I headed to my hostel. After checking in, I ran/walked/took pictures for a couple hours on Petrin Hill. It's a beautiful maze of paths on a hill in downtown Prague, complete with towers, gardens, and statues. At the top of the hill is a tower (Petrin Lookout Tower) that was inspired by the Eiffel Tower. It was so much fun to run there (besides the cobblestones - ouch). When I got back, I met some of my roommates. They were all really nice, and one of them actually went to school at Madison in Wisconsin. Small world!

Mini Eiffel Tower!

By the time I got food, went back to my hostel, and showered, it was after nine. I went to eat down in the common room, and after a few minutes, a forty-some-year-old man approached my table. He stopped about five feet away and stared at me for about 10 seconds before I looked up. Slightly creepy, but we ended up talking for about an hour. It got pretty deep - we mostly talked about religion. He had a liberal view of God, so our discussion was quite interesting, but I tried to share my faith as best as I could. 

After that, I wanted to go to the city center just to walk around a bit before going to bed. When I walked out to the tram, an old man approached me and asked if I spoke English. I joyfully said, "That's the only language I can speak!" He had no idea where he was, or where his hotel was. He also didn't know the name of his hotel....yikes. His name was Patrick, and he was from Dublin. It must have been the night for religious discussions, because almost immediately after meeting, he brought up the topic. He was an atheist, and he had some strong views about Christianity. I tried to respond lovingly, but I definitely had to bite my tongue a few times. After an hour or so, we finally found his hotel, and we parted ways agreeing to disagree.

The next morning, I met with my friend Christa's friend Zdenick. He is an adorable old man who lives near Prague, and he kindly gave me a tour of the city. He took me mostly to places that I've already seen, but he pointed out unique details and filled me in on the history behind the buildings. For two hours, Zdenick spoke almost unceasingly about Prague. I learned a ton! He reminded me of my dad because of his depth of historical knowledge and uncanny ability to recite dates. This is probably sounding more like a history class than a fun morning to you all, but I had a great time. After we parted ways, I spent a few more  hours in Prague before heading home. It's sad to think that that may have been my last visit to Prague!

Today I ran a 6K with two of the teachers at school. It was a terrible day to run - really rainy (the course was a mud slide), but the entry fee was only $3, and we got free food...so I can't complain!

OK, time to go. Back to reality...back to lesson plans. My first day of teaching is tomorrow, so please say your prayers for me! 

Beautiful Fall Days

The weather has been foggy and gray for the past few weeks, so it has been really exciting to have some nice days recently. After school, I went on a run through the city center. I've been taking Plzen's beauty for granted, so today I stopped to walk and soak it all in. There was an orchestral concert playing in the city square - they were amazing, and I'm happy I stumbled upon it.

In other news, they just installed a carousel in the city center, and it is not the typical carousel...Think giant, creepy skeleton-like animals. They also have four sculptures in the city center, and they each represent a different animal, or in the case of the one shown below, an angel. Not quite seeing it, but I was never the artistic type.

Some more random tidbits:

In the Czech Republic, each day of the year (except national holidays) has a corresponding name. For example, Linda (the teacher from South Africa) had her name day ("svatek") on September 1. It's actually a pretty big deal here. Sometimes they even get gifts, so I would be fine with implementing that in the U.S. :)

On Saturday, I took a day trip to Klatovy, a small town south of Plzen. It has a really cute Old Town, but there's not much beyond that. It was also my first time on the train, so my inner Harry Potter geek came out a bit.

A teacher from the international school in Prague will be coming to Plzen to observe/advise me in the coming weeks, so I will meet her on Friday and tour the school. I'm very interested to compare the two schools! I'm going to stay the night in Prague and spend Saturday there as well. My friend Christa told me about a great hostel that's only 70 Kc a night (less than $4!).

I'm still gradually making progress with the language. I get very excited when I pick up random words in conversations. (Today I caught "prase" - pig. Can't ask for directions, but I can say pig. Helpful.) It's been pretty amusing to see the other side of it - the frustration of the Czech native speakers as they learn English. ("Though...thought...tough...makes no sense!") I must say, they have a point.

To conclude this entry, I present a few Czech tongue twisters:

zmrzlina (ice)
sprcha (shower)
ctvrtek (Thursday)
vlk (wolf)
krk (neck)

Sorry for the disorganized post today. :) Dobra noc!

Week 1 Update

One more day until the weekend! It's time for...highlights of the week!

In no particular order:

1. Getting my first gift from a student
A first grader gave me a handmade bracelet today. Sweet! Another girl in the same class tried to give me her apple, but I told her she should save it for her lunch. I don't know if she understood me, so I  hope she didn't think I was unimpressed with her gift!

2. Teaching adult English class
Pastor Petr approached me on Sunday about teaching a class for adults. The class takes place once a week; the first hour is strictly English, and the second hour is a Bible class. Petr strategically placed the Bible class after the English class. Most want to continue practicing their English, so they stay for the Bible class despite  their disinterest in religion. Tricky, Petr!

Four adults showed up on Wednesday. (Five to seven typically came last year.) I had several activities planned, but we ended up only getting through a couple in that first hour. One student, Jara, was particularly talkative! "Jara" is the shorted version of his name by the way; after butchering his real name several times in a row, he said I could use a nickname. :) Jara is a professional opera singer and classical pianist. When I teased him that he should perform for us, he jumped up and started pounding on the piano. He played and sang for us, and it sounded amazing! When I told him that I play the piano a bit, he told me (jokingly, I hope) that I have to perform with him next week.

The other students weren't quite as skilled as Jara. One woman, Sonja, had actually never studied English before. She understood a good amount of English, but she lacked speaking skills. Thankfully, Petr was there to act as a translator when we needed him. Overall, everything went really well. I was nervous to teach adults, and I had no idea what to expect with their abilities, but they gave me positive feedback at the end of class.

3. English teacher get-together
We have been trying to get the English teachers together for the past week, and we finally did on Wednesday. My apartment is the biggest, so everyone came there. We talked, snacked, and played Scattergories. (And, ahem, you're talking to the winner. Take that, non-native English speakers!) We had a good time, and I am feeling very blessed for the great group of people I work with.

This week has flown by. I've been bouncing around all of the classrooms from kindergarten through ninth grade.It's not always exciting to simply observe, but I usually get the opportunity to interact and participate in their classes. I have one more week of observations, and then I'll start teaching.

My frustration for the week is, once again, the language. Foolishly, I didn't foresee it being so big a barrier. The younger children (kindergarten through second grade or so) have really limited English. Our conversations are limited to "What's your name?" and "How are you?" It's easier in the upper grades, but it's definitely still a challenge.

Even so, I have had a great week so far. Kids are kids, no matter what their language, culture, or background. The students I've seen and met are wild, funny, moody (I'm talking to you, ninth grade), bright, and talkative. I'm excited and nervous for the quickly approaching day where I'll be teaching them! Thanks for keeping me in your prayers. Love and miss you all!

Unfortunately. pretty accurate.

Summer's End

Well, that's it!

I can't believe that summer has ended. The past three months have really been crazy. Cayman Islands, summer work in Washington, road trip to Wisconsin, Grenada, Estonia, Germany, Austria, and now here I am! I'll be processing the events of this year for a long time.

I got to explore Prague on Friday and Saturday. Prague is quickly moving to the front of my list of favorite cities. It is so beautiful, and each time I go I discover something different. I hate walking with a map in my hand, so I usually wander aimlessly. The city is a maze of cobblestone streets and hidden courtyards, and there is something unique at every turn. "Just a little further," I am always thinking as I walk. I think I could live there for years and continue to stumble across new cafes, gardens, and chapels. 

Today I went to church at the school. I spent the service wishing I understood Czech and trying to think Godly thoughts. Afterwards I met the pastor (Petr - prounced Pet-er, not Peet-er). He told me he didn't think I could possibly be Melanie because I looked like I understood Czech during the service. Guess I'm a good faker! He gave me a sheet of notes for the service (English version) to look over at home. Very kind! 

This church definitely needs our prayers. During the summer, they only have church every other Sunday because attendance is so low. When my dad and I went two weeks ago, we were the only ones that showed up. There were maybe twenty people in attendance today. There is definitely an opportunity for growth!

In other news, I really need to get serious about learning Czech. No more excuses...if my students are learning English, I need to put forth some effort towards learning their language. I'm going to regret saying this publicly...now you'll hold me accountable! :)

Happy Labor Day weekend to all you Americans!

I Spy...McDonald's.

Vienna!

I'm really getting used to my nomadic lifestyle over here. I may be in shock when I start having a normal schedule on Monday. (You're all feeling sorry for me, I can tell.)

I spent the past two days in Vienna. I left early on Tuesday and arrived in the afternoon. The bus ride was so nice that I almost didn't want to get off; they had TV screens, so I watched a solid 4 hours of Friends. Nothing beats a productive afternoon!

This was my first time staying in a hostel, and my place set the bar really high. Great location, fun atmosphere, super friendly staff (and less than 15 euro a night - yay). After checking in on Tuesday, I put on my running clothes and ran/walked around the city for a few hours. When I got back I met my roommate, a really sweet woman named Elisa from Milan. We walked around the city for a few hours that night, spending a bit of time at a film festival and exploring the city center. Having been to Vienna before, she was my personal tour guide. I happily let her take control of orienteering. :)

I was exhausted after that, and we both passed out in our surprisingly comfy beds. We were the only people that night in our four-bed dorm. I went for a short run the next morning and basically let my nose lead the way. There are SO many bakeries and adorable cafes, and I could smell fresh bread and pastries the whole time. Elisa and I had breakfast with our new roommate Daniella when I got back. She was a girl my age from Berlin, and she was a lot of fun to talk to.

After that, Elisa and I took to the city again. We spent about four hours together before going our separate ways. She told me to let her know if I'm ever in Italy and need a place to stay. (That's for you and me, Eri!) I explored some more famous spots in the city (my favorite was Shonbrunn Palace and the gardens surrounding it) until the evening. Then I headed back to the hostel and spent some time talking to a guy from Vancouver, Canada - practically my neighbor!

Overall, Vienna was a really great experience. The people that I met there are SO friendly. Also, the public transportation was extremely easy. I wasn't sure that I would really appreciate Vienna (I'm not particularly artsy or musical), but I would definitely recommend a visit if you're ever in Europe.

In other news, I met with two of my professors today via Skype, along with some of the teachers here at the school. It will get pretty busy in the coming weeks, but I know that God will get me through each day. Thanks for keeping me in your prayers!

The Gloriette

Settling In

As the title suggests, I am really starting to feel at home here. I am finally saying (extremely basic) Czech phrases with some confidence: dekuji (thank you), hello (dobry den), and good-bye (na shledanou); I can take the tram without fumbling with my pass; and I don't even get creeped out at night by myself. Impressive, huh?

Yesterday I spent most of the day with Linda, a teacher at the school and my neighbor. I will actually be working with Linda quite a bit when the school year rolls around next week. She is really funny and sweet, so I feel very blessed! I also spent some time with Danny and Nikol, my other neighbors. Danny is from Montana, and I will also be working with him for much of my time here. Nikol is his wife and a kindergarten teacher at the school. They are a lot of fun, and they have been really inviting. Emmy - Nikol is also four months pregnant. And in the Czech Republic, they get 2-4 years of PAID maternity leave. Insanity! Welcome to socialism, I guess.

Today was a teacher meeting/work day at the school. I sat in on the meeting with the English teachers (there are five), and among other things, we discussed my role in the coming weeks. The plan is for me to observe for two weeks, teach full-time for two weeks, and teach part-time for my final two weeks. I will be rotating between Linda and Danny's rooms. I'm still not sure what to expect, but I'm excited!

Tomorrow I am going to Vienna. I was hoping to go to Budapest, but the bus was full. Hopefully another time! It's wonderful how cheap travel via bus is here, especially for students. I hope to take advantage of this many times throughout the next couple months!

I finally posted pictures on Facebook, so you can check that out if you wish. It was fun for me to look back at the events and wonderful memories of the past couple weeks. Thanks for reading, and hope you all are doing well!

Above: Two Americans trying to blend in with the native people.

Dad Leaves...:(

Well today was a sad day... I parted ways with my dad. Not only has my dad been my personal chauffeur and translator these past two weeks, but he has been a loving and laid-back companion. We had such a great time together, and I couldn't help but shed a few (or several) tears at the airport this morning.

But where were we? Ah, yes...let's backtrack a couple days. Yesterday we left the Lake District, a collection of lakes just east of Salzburg. Have I told you about this place? It is b-e-a-utiful. It reminds me of some prime backpacking locations in Canada.

We spent one night in the Lake District, in the town of Mondsee. We stayed in a hotel called Panorama; they couldn't have chosen a more fitting name! We were up on this huge hill surrounded by meadows and the occasional cow. Farms spattered the countryside, and there were plum trees lining the road. (I assumed these were free. Part of the hotel price, right?) All of the houses were white with dark wood trim, and everyone had flower boxes by their windows. To top it all off, we had a great view of Lake Mondsee and the mountains surrounding it.

We spent yesterday driving around the lakes before heading back up to Pilsen. I demonstrated my best culinary skills for my dad with a late dinner of instant soup, popcorn (pre-popped and salted), and some carrot chips. He raved about it. (See "laid-back" descriptor in first paragraph.)

Dad and I treated the pastor at the school to some very fancy McDonald's coffee in the morning. The pastor has been very helpful in making us comfortable in Pilsen, and we wanted to say thanks with a cheap cup of coffee. We had a nice chat, he and Dad said their good-byes, and we headed off for our hour-long drive to Prague.

After Dad and I returned the rental and hugged good-bye, I took a bus to the city center in Prague to explore for the afternoon. I only spent about 4 hours there, and it went by in a flash! I alternated between wandered like a fool and trying not to look ridiculously touristy. But first I ate. I have my priorities.

So to sum up, I love Prague. I can't wait to go back and spend the day exploring! Thankfully the fare is pretty cheap between Pilsen and Prague (155 ckz, or about $8) and it takes less than 2 hours. There are so many beautiful, historic buildings to see. (Okay, and the food was amazing. Don't judge.)

Tonight is my first night alone in my apartment...all of a sudden it feels so much bigger! Now that I'm all on my own, I'm feeling my first case of nervous excitement for what's ahead with student teaching. All I can do is trust that God will be with me every step of the way. So, so grateful that God kept my dad and I safe and happy as we traveled. Thank you all again for your prayers and support!

The German/Austrian Adventure Continues!

I cannot believe that my 2-week expedition with Dad is coming to a close soon. It went so fast! Tomorrow we head back to Pilsen, and Friday he flies back home. :(

We had another scenic drive yesterday and today. We have been driving through southern Germany and Austria, right by the Alps. For the majority of our drives, I have been staring out my window, open-mouthed. We are also usually listening to classical music. Precious, right?

We stayed in the beautiful town Garmisch last night, right next to the Alps. Unfortunately the weather was pretty foggy, so the mountains were quite hidden. We had a fun time nevertheless, and we went on our daily run before hitting the road.

Side note: I'm loving the continental breakfasts. Around plate #3, Dad usually gives me a look that is halfway impressed, halfway disgusted, accompanied by a statement like, "Wow, you really have an appetite today...good."

This morning we drove through Innsbruck (quite close to the Italian border) and headed northeast to end up in the Lake District outside of Salzburg. Our view is incredible. You know the scene in the Sound of Music when Julie Andrews runs through the hills singing? Imagine that, added to the fact that we are looking down at a lake with mountains in the background. Breathtaking!

Tomorrow we are swinging south around Bad Ischil to see some more lakes in the area. We appreciate your prayers for our continued safety as we travel. Wishing you all could be here to see the sights with me!

The Hills Are Alive...

I have a new favorite city! Birthplace of Mozart, the site of the Sound of Music...Salzburg is so, so beautiful.

Dad and I arrived in Salzburg last night after a slow drive through the Czech Republic, a bit of Germany, and finally Austria. European driving lesson #1: It generally takes much longer than expected to get from point A to point B. (Getting turned around a few times may have had something to do with it too...oops.) This was fine, though, because the view was gorgeous. Rolling green hills, the Alps, the occasional cow...it was the definition of idyllic. We also stopped in the city of Passau for a couple hours. I had never heard of it, but it is so beautiful!

We started the day with a run/walk through the city. After exploring for about an hour, we showered and ate, and then headed back out for a couple hours before checkout. We hiked up what felt like a mountain, and half a liter of sweat later, we had a view of the city that was literally breathtaking (or maybe I'm just out of shape). After that we drove to the Von Trapp home (from The Sound of Music). Again, so beautiful. I could spend many, many happy days in Salzburg!

In the afternoon we met up with the family my dad lived with for a couple months while studying abroad in college. They were so sweet, and they stuffed us full of apple strudel before sending us on our way.

We are in Memmingen, Germany tonight. My dad lived here for the first six years of his life in a "displaced persons" camp. It is definitely a sleepy town compared to Salzburg, but I am excited to look around tomorrow.

I am especially thankful for the beauty of God's creation right now. There are so many amazing places in the world, and I feel so fortunate for the opportunity to explore some of them. Until next time!

Back from the Homeland

Tere! ("Hello," for all you non-Estonians.) Would you believe that "tere" is essentially the extent of the Estonian I picked up this last week? Embarrassing.

Today at the airport, we had at least 20 family members see us off. (Aren't they the best?) I was chatting with one of my young relatives as we waited, and she asked what the best and the worst parts of my trip were. The first part of my response came quickly: meeting the family was the best! It was so amazing to hear their stories, pore over old pictures, and meet the people who share my history and even my features.

The worst part? This response came nearly as easily. I hated not knowing Estonian. (This actually was second to worst. The worst was when one of my relatives made me take a swig of moonshine. Blech.) There were many moments where I missed a story or joke because it was told in Estonian. Everyone was so good about including me, but I felt like a nuisance to make them translate or switch to English. It really came down to my pride- I felt stupid! My relatives all claim to have terrible English, yet most speak it quite fluently. In addition, most know Russian, Finnish, and sometimes German. Talk about feeling inadequate! Nevertheless, they inspired me to learn about other cultures and increase my knowledge of the world.

Sharing my best and worst moment is hardly an adequate representation of the trip, so without further ado,  here is a list of highlights from Estonia:

1. Cabbage soup

I was told it was compulsory to try this greenish liquid. I'm happy I did! This traditional Estonian soup is a staple at my relatives' get-togethers. Two bowls of soup later, I appeased Heli, my grandmother's sister.

Heli is exactly what I think of when I imagine a stereotypical grandmother. She isn't happy until you have eaten, and then had seconds...and thirds....and then she insists you take food home as well. (Sounding familiar, Mom?) She also doesn't speak any English, so our entire relationship was centered on many smiles, hugs, and her giving me food and mittens she knit herself. She lives on the farm where she and my grandmother were born, and she works very hard to keep it beautiful. Imagine a cute red house and rows and rows of flowers, vegetables, apple trees...lovely!

Dad and I spent our last night at the farm. We were there for over 8 hours, but the time flew as we ate, drank, and talked with over 30 of our Estonian relatives. My favorite night of the trip!

2. Seeing the swamps

You knew I was going to say that, didn't you? I admit, I wasn't super excited about this outing, but it surprised me! Swamps in Estonia are different than swamps in the movie Shrek, for example. Estonia is actually quite famous for these beautiful bodies of water. Dad and I hiked a loop around a swamp with Kuldar and Silvi, two of our wonderful relatives. Kuldar tried to convince me swim in it (which is actually normal to do), but I decided to save it for next time.

3. Parliament

We have a relative who is a member of Parliament! He gave us a special tour, introduced us to the Speaker of the House, and took us on a hike up Tall Hermann, one  of the many famous towers in Estonia. I'm pretty nerdy, so I thought this was a very interesting experience.

4. FOOD

I'm pretty sure I gained 5 pounds this week, but it was totally worth it. Fish, bread, amazing potato salad, bread, cake, fresh fruit, more bread, more cake...(I'm a bit confused where this 5 pounds came from!) I could write a whole blog post on food, but I'll save the minute details for my sisters. :) Let's just say that my family took very good care of us!

Ok, it's time to wrap up the post for tonight. The church service tomorrow  is all in Czech, so if I have any hope of understanding it, I need a good night's sleep.

Our trip to Estonia was full of so many special moments, and this really just scratches the surface. I am so thankful God has given me this opportunity to learn about my roots. Sisters and Mom, everyone wants to meet you, so start saving up for your plane ticket. Who knows- maybe next time I will be able to say more than "Tere!"

From Pilsen to Tallinn

So much for updating my blog frequently ...sorry everyone! I am typing this from my phone so it won't be a long post (I will be without my computer for a couple weeks while we travel).

So much has happened!  We had a wonderful few days in Pilsen. The language barrier is much more difficult than I anticipated though. It actually led to some confusion which resulted in a bit of trouble with law enforcement...oops. It's a long story, so I will fill you in when I have a keyboard in front of me. (Now I have you hooked! See how I did that?)

We have spent one night in Estonia so far. It has been truly incredible. I am really missing the rest of my family right now-they should be seeing what I'm seeing and learning about our history.

We received a very warm welcome from my father's cousin and his family at the airport, and we spent hours at their house eating delicious food and drinking wine. Thankfully most of them speak English, but they are obviously much more comfortable with Estonian. It is so strange to hear my dad fluently chatting in this foreign language. He seems to have no problem remembering the language of his youth. He is so clearly in his element, and I feel really blessed to see this side of my dad.

Sisters-you always ask me about the food so here is an update: :) Czech food is not my favorite so far. Lots of gravy, bread, and meat. And beer- no surprise there! However, the groceries are very cheap, and there is plenty of fresh produce. Estonia is more up my alley with lots of fish, vegetables, fruit, and delicious espresso.

I will post pictures when I have my laptop. We have seen some things that look like they are from a fairy tale! Feeling so blessed and wishing everyone back home could come see what I'm seeing! Thank you for all your thoughts and prayers. Until next time!

Czech It Out (More Cheesy Puns to Come)

Let's start with some confessions.

First, I spent an embarrassing amount of time coming up with a title for this blog. (Migrating Mel...get it? Alliteration? Please like it.)

Second, although I hope my mom reads this from time to time, my purpose for this blog is really to create a travel log of sorts for myself. Think of it as a sneak peek into my diary. Aren't you feeling lucky?

As I wrote in my "About Me," I have been blessed with the opportunity to teach in Plzen (or Pilsen), Czech Republic for a portion of my student teaching experience. I will be teaching for six weeks, but I am leaving three weeks early (this Friday!) to travel with my dad.

My dad was born in Estonia, so after spending a couple of days in Plzen, we will fly to Tallinn, the capital of Estonia. After our 5-day jaunt through Dad's memory lane, we will head to Germany to explore some other places he has lived. (My dad should really be the one writing a blog...he has had an amazing life!)

To say I am excited is a huge understatement. I feel so blessed and thankful that God has given me this opportunity to step into a new culture. I am also incredibly grateful to everyone, particularly my professors, who has worked to open the doors to this new experience for me. I pray that God will work through me as I travel, teach, and meet new people.

Thank you to all of you who are reading (Mom). I would really appreciate your prayers for my safety and strength during these next couple months!

Image from: http://www.praisejesustoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/fear-not1.jpg