Don't pay with dirty money

A couple of weeks ago, I went down to hypernova, which is my normal routine during the week to get lunch. The weekend before this day I just got back from our ESI Thanksgivng retreat and we were encouraged to be a light to everyone(even though we can't speak the language), even to people in the supermarket or people that we pass on the street. I was getting ready to check out and I decided to go to through this one lady's line. I know that when my teammates have gone to her before she was really cranky with them. On this day I decided that I was going to try to be a light to her and make her day, I was just hoping to smile at her. This lady rang me up and she told me how much it was in Czech. So i handed her 100kc and she started to tell me in Czech that it was too dirty and that she couldn't take it from me. I didn't know what what to say...in reality i just wanted to say "Are you serious?It barely has any dirt on it", but i knew i didn't know that in Czech. So I asked her in czech "is this a big problem?" and she continued to tell me that on the back of my 100kc bill it was too dirty. It was the crazies thing i have ever heard of. I have never had that experience before. I could understand if it was a larger bill like 1,000kc but it was 100kc. I also told her that i got it from the bank, the guy behind me told me to take it back to the bank, at least that is what i thought it said. So I paid the lady with some different coins that I had. That is my crazy story for you.....So a word of advice make sure your money is clean before you use it-)

A day to remember

I think this year is a year to remember. On Tuesday i turned another year older, which most of you know, but i must say it was the best birthday i have ever had. I arrived to school just like normal, preparing at 6;30am for my two morning classes. My first class was normal, I only had a few students. I let them out a few minutes early because they had to go to work. I came into the teacher's office to grab my other stuff for my other class, my colleague kept telling me "just relax you have a few minutes, come and sit down,really relax." I must say it was a little strange for him to tell me that, but i really didn't think anything of it. I decided to go and make some tea for class. Finally i opened up the door to where i was suppose to teach, but no students! Then i looked on the table and there were four cards numbered 1-4, a basket of fruit, a vase of flowers, candles that were lite, a large blueberry cake with candles, and instructions. I was quite surprised, i didn't know if i was suppose to be in there or not. There were no students!! So I was instructed by my boss to come read the note that was on the table...The note had said something about someone not being here and you don't have any students either but to read the four cards and it will tell you your future(we just got done doing will and going to). The first card said get on your coat and hurry up downstairs your taxi is waiting for you. Second card said you are going to meet your friends. Third card said hurry up. Fourth card....I don't remember!!!
I got my coat on and went downstairs and there were 3 of my students waiting for me and my taxi(which was my student). My student that was driving was definitely stalling for time because she took me around the parking lot several times and then went around the around abouts several times(i thought i was going to get sick going around in circles very fast). Anyways, then we meet up with the rest of the class. They all said happy birthday to me. Afterwards, some students kept telling me that they were taking me to the dentist, the doctor, i really didn't know where i was going until i opened the door to a hair salon. I really didn't know what was going on...they all were choosing different colors for my hair red, blue, blond to purple. I was a little nervous because it was all in czech and i didn't know what they had planned. One of my students told me i couldn't say no that i have to just say yes. It was very funny!! I made sure to tell them i wanted something that was natural not to exotic. So i do have a new doo and new highlights but don't worry it isn't purple or any crazy color. The hairdresser did cut my hair but only a little bit. I will send pictures very soon, i will get them from my student who was taking pictures during the whole process.
After two hours in the salon I met up with the rest of the class. We went for lunch at a really nice restaurant. It was so funny because all the girls were with me and then the boys were all at the restaurant. They all clapped for me when I entered the restaurant. It was crazy!!
I was so surprised and felt very blessed by all of them. Words can't even say how much I appreciated it. I have never had that type of experience before and it was amazing to spend time with my students. I really thank God for all of my students they have been a huge blessing every one of them.

First encounter with the white stuff

By the title of this blog you are probably wondering what does it mean....Yes, on October 19,2007 cheb had the first encounter of snow for this winter season. It was so hard to believe to see the white flakes coming down from the sky. I have been thinking that just maybe I would have a white birthday instead of the normal rainy weather. The weather has been crazy here in the czech republic. Well, it will be interesting to see what happens......more to come.

The toothless man has returned

To give you a little history about my experience in Skalka a few years ago...When I lived in Skalka(it is in Cheb but that is the name where my flat was) about 2 years ago I almost got my first kiss by a toothless man. While I was living in Skalka I had an encounter with "the man" one day. I was walking to the supermarket and he approached me speaking a lot of czech to me. When he knew I didn't speak czech he would use his hands like sign language to communicate what he was asking for. Then he motioned to me to kiss him. When I tried to walk away from him, he tried to kiss me on my face. I was a little freaked out by him, just a little=). From that moment on I always tried to avoid walking by him or anywhere near him. The memories of the toothless man.........Well, he is back in Skalka. I was there visiting my new teammates not too long ago and I saw him. He again asked me if I had a cigarette, I just kept walking. The poor man is not all there mentally and I think he is homeless as well. I have seen him dig through the dumpsters before. Then about 3 days later I was standing outside by the bus stop in Skalka around 10 o'clock at night. I saw him walk towards me and I just began to pray out loud that he wouldn't come any closer to me. I have had too many encounters with him in the past. I just kept praying out loud and tried to stay where I was. The toothless man didn't come any closer to me, he stayed by the bus stop bench which was about a foot away from me. He waited there until the bus came. I was so thankful when that bus came around the corner. So he is back..........