In the world of teaching.....

After a week of vacation here in the Czech republic, it was hard to get into lesson planning mode. I spent several hours trying to figure out the best lesson for the first day. I was presented the challenge that most of these students know each other, its only me that doesn't know all of them. Also, i had to remember how to do lesson plans. I think in the end my lesson plan finally came together and it was great because i could use it for multiple classes. Praise the lord!!!
On Monday I taught my first lesson, which i think went well. It was great to see old students and also meet new ones. In all of my classes I was asked the famous question "why did you come back to the Czech republic?" That is always a complicated question to answer. It is not common here for teachers to leave and then to come back after a short time. Several students were surprised with my answer that i love the people here and that i love the Czech republic.
i am looking forward to embark in a new adventure this year. Also, for the new challenge that lays ahead of me. I will be working with mostly adults and i have one class with young people.
I will keep you posted as time goes on........

learning the language

Funny Story about learning the language...........
The other day I was with my teammates at a restaurant called Flora in Cheb. We were all ordering drinks...one of my teammates order a "coke"...not thinking anything of it. The waitress later came out with two Coke Colas and handed one of my teammates a very small glass with a brownish-orange liquid in it. The funny thing is that the waitress thought that my teammate ordered a "Grog" and not a "coke-cola." So the waitress thought she wanted this alcoholic drink called grog......So we kindly explained to the waitress that we wanted a coke-cola,not grog, that we were very sorry... we all laughed afterwards..The beauties of learning the language and things of what not to say..........my poor teammate-).

Another funny story........
This last Thursday I met up with a Czech friend and we went shopping around in Cheb. When we were in a store the clerk asked us if she could help us with anything. My friend responded to her in Czech that we were just looking. Then I asked my friend to teach me how to say it in Czech...jenom se kukam..so I was practicing this so I could remember how to say it. As I was practicing this phrase over and over again I said ...jenom se okukam...which means " I am only a bird." We both just laughed. I am very thankful that I didn't actually say that to anyone. I know that I will have more moments like that this year as i am learning the language. Just one little letter can change the whole word or just how you pronounce the word can mean something completely different.

Pictures........

Darina(former ESI teacher that I taught with my first two years in the Czech Republic) and me at Santa Monica, California. Enjoying the summer sun on the beach of California.

Czech Team-Me, Naomi, Sarah,Celia and Cameron(back), Crystal, Che, Joesph(back), Jonna, and Laura(there were others that were not pictured)

Zuzka and me in Frantiskovi Lazne(spa town near Cheb)
Jan, me, Naomi, and Jonna at Connals enjoying our last milk shake before going to the Czech Republic.


Jonna and me at training in Pasadena, Califormia.

Naomi, Sarah, and me in F.L.(Franstiskovi Lazne). All of us exploring the beautiful spa town near Cheb.

Czech-ing In

Greetings everyone,
I have made it here in the Czech republic safe and sound. It was a long flight, with many lay-overs in various airports, a long drive, but my team and i are here in Cheb. It has been good to be back into a town that is familiar to me. There are a lot of things in Cheb that are the same, but then there are some changes as well. The famous Vietemese market place is gone-(.
I am very glad to be back, it seems so natural ,but a little overwhelming at the sametime. I have been trying to pick up the langauge again. I am just amazed on how much i do remember, but i have forgotten a lot too. That is totally the Lord!!!
I have enjoyed taking my new teammates around Cheb and other towns in the west bohemia area. I am excited for this upcoming year. I am looking forward to teaching again and meeting new students.
Not a lot has been going on here in Cheb. Here are some pictures for you to enjoy. There are pictures of my team in Cheb and also in the Czech Republic.
Blessings