Brave like Nicole Nordemon

Sunday, January 25, 2009
1:00 p.m. CZ time

Wow – where to start?

This week has been a major rollercoaster.
I was finally comfortable in Paula’s house, I’m becoming confident at EISP, my excitement over my apartment continuously built up. At the same time, I still had moments that I just wanted to curl up with a pillow in my room. Then, yesterday, Paula brings me to my apartment at Hotel Jeneralka…and leaves.
I’m alone.
Holy crap - what am I supposed to do now? I’ve got to start over.
I spent a good five or six hours on Skype.
That’s what I did.
And I survived.
I slept on a not-very-comfortable midget bed – but I woke up. And I’m well-rested.
I went to my first worship service with Šárka Valley Community Church and had tears in my eyes most of the time – but I did it, and God spoke, and I made a friend.
The sermon was on Mark 1 – Jesus calling his disciples. You know, “fishers of men,” “come follow me.”
It ripped my heart out.
She asked if it mattered whether the disciples knew what they were getting into, or how they knew they should follow Jesus, or why they did follow, if they had any idea where they were going, or that they left everything they knew and loved.
Or is the point that God created followers where before there were none; that God moved? Sometimes God calls, but then is silent. Sometimes he doesn’t tell us where we’re going, where He’s taking us, because that doesn’t matter – it’s a side point. What matters, is what He’s doing along the way, the miracles He’s performing, that we’re missing. We (I) try so hard to be obedient, and ask God what he wants us to do, that we miss what He IS doing.
It was a good message. I needed it.

After the sermon, there was coffee and tea and cookies (maybe real crumpets?).
I met a man from England named Gordon, we talked for a minute. I had to hold his hand as we prayed at the end – a conversation was warranted.

I met a girl. Jenya from Kazakhstan. She’s been here about a year. She walked me around the campus. She’s getting her Masters. She’s super sweet. There’s a Bible study group on Tuesdays at 6:30 p.m. – I’ll probably go with her. She lives one floor above me. Thank you, Jesus for connections – finally!

I have pictures of the apartment...as you can see. :) This is the view as you walk in (notice CNN on the TV and the flowerdy curtains) :
...and then the kitchen as you turn to the right (I'd just finished washing dishes, hence the provided draining board next to the sink):
...turn a little more and there's the bathroom (complete with soap dispenser and a sailboat shower curtain)...then around the corner from the kitchen is the bedroom, complete with lamps and alarm clock (and the breakaway shirt on the bed!):

I've taken both duvets and layed them across the bed. They should make it more cushy for bedtime tonight...the red blanket is fleecy-like and came from the cabinet/closet. See how the bed is so low to the floor?
This view doesn't let you see my closet space...but it's nice.
So, there you go. :)


Instant coffee. Ugh. I believe I’m going to have to learn to like it. That, or be drinking a lot of tea…Lots. Of. Tea.

My chi refuses to work. It’s being stubborn. Guess that means I have to buy a Czech one.
I had a grilled cheese for lunch. And instant coffee…
I have a cell phone now for local calls. From what I can tell, minutes are freakin’ expensive…but most of what I’ve seen has been in Czech…so I’m not really sure.

I need to write an observation to email to Don…he’s supposed to have it by today. I need to do lesson plans, too. Work, work, work.

Hopefully, things will continue to fall into place and I can get some GOOD pictures up!

I've got Air1 streaming. Sounds of home. :)

Much love.

Once outside its flowerpot, the tree ceases to be a bonsai

10:45 a.m. – CZ

Yesterday. Was. Amazing.

First of all, I’ve figured out how to work the heater-thing in my bedroom. No more sleeping in a hoodie!
Paula had a hair appointment yesterday afternoon (at a place called “Jane’s” or “James” or something…) close to the centre. We drove to a place where we could park (the Mercedes) and caught the train downtown. We walked to the salon, so I could get my bearings around Old Town. On the way, we stopped at a restaurant for some authentic Czech food. After we sat down and ordered our drinks, we realized we weren’t going to have time to finish before her appointment. We paid for the drinks and left. She went to her appointment and I went to a little bookstore ( well, Big Ben Bookshop). I looked for a good twenty minutes.
I had no idea what I wanted.
But, I was determined to get something, because I had an hour and a half to fill until Paula would be done. Eventually, the guy behind the counter walked over and asked if I was looking for something. I had no clue. I wasn’t in the mood for mushy/romantic, not really into sci-fi or suspense. Mysteries are good, but I didn’t want something that long. Thought about some Kafka or John Grisham…but that didn’t really sound good at the time, either. I looked at the “Local Interest” section…but I didn’t want a touristy-Prague book. Perhap something light, something witty, thought-probing but not requiring too much energy, or something beautiful. He looked to be about my age, so I asked him what he liked. He pointed out a few. The first one he pointed to was a contemporary novella called “Bonsai” by Alejandro Zambra. I think I’ve heard of it before. It was a simple looking book. He pointed out a few others, bigger novels and things. I picked up “Bonsai.” I read the inside flap. I’m going to type out what it says. It might be a little long, but bear with me (you have to be a part of the whole experience!)

‘This stylish, elliptically told Chilean novella is, as perhaps best described by one critic, “Brief as a sigh and forceful as a blow.” And indeed, the sweetness of the youthful love story at the heart of Bonsai belies its absorbing power.

The tale of a young writer who falls for a woman who disappears while he is pretending to edit a book that doesn’t exist, it brilliantly explores the relationship between art, love, and life. And with a beguiling form that seems whimsical on the one hand, wiser-than-its-years on the other, it is a work of such striking originality and unusual beauty as to make it seem both simple and profound. It is, clearly, the debut of an important new writer.’

I asked the guy why he liked it. He said, “It’s beautiful.”
I was sold.
I bought the book and headed back to the restaurant we’d just tried. I was determined to try the goulash with dumplings. I attempted to get a picture, but didn’t use the flash. It’s not very clear.
Goulash is pretty good. It’s a Bohemian peasant dish – cheap and filling.
When I finished, my waiter brought me my check. He ever-so-nicely told me that the 126 koruna amount on the ticket was the cost of my meal, but that amount didn’t include “service.” He had a calculator with the 145 koruna amount, including “service.” Normal Czech restaurant-goers don’t usually tip. But, those places in the touristy areas know that we Americans are expected to tip fairly well at home. So, they “expect” us to tip them when we’re here.
I laughed on the inside and left him 150, partially because I knew there was no way he would give me change, and partially because I was amused at his tactics and intrigued by his nerve. Perhaps he thought he’d fooled a naïve American girl, because he took my money and said “Thank you, goodbye” all in one breath. Like I said, he wasn’t going to offer change.
People are interesting.

Anyway, I left and walked back down to Starbucks on the corner. I stood in a long line to order a tall “white caffe’ mocha,” browsed the mugs, then found a seat and started in on my new read. The coffee over here is the best. Gah. I think it’s the cream they use. I dunno. But it’s amazing, and probably incredibly fattening. I wasn’t there long before Paula found me and we headed home.

Around 6:30 p.m. our taxi showed up to take us to Quit Night at the school. Holy Cow – not your average Quiz Bowl. When we arrived “Hey Ya” by Outkast was blaring and tables were already set out for wine and beer (provided by the school) to be purchased (by the glass or by the bottle). The night was a fundraiser for the year 12 students (11th grade) to go with Habitat for Humanity and build a house in Romania. So, those students were the servers for the evenings…even the alcohol. Definitely not American! There was a guy that stood up and spoke for a bit…I think he was the Romanian Ambassador….THE Romanian Ambassador. Cool, huh?

It was fun. We did pretty well on the quiz. We should have had a better score than what they gave us, but I won’t go into that.

This morning, I’m doing laundry. I also have to finish some paperwork for GST and send it in to my supervisor, Don.
I’m doing some team teaching tomorrow. I’m working with the year 7’s (6th grade) on writing paragraphs. You know, topic sentences, supporting details…that sort of thing. I have to come up with a lesson plan. Blah - stupid technicalities.

I hope to hear from the IBTS people soon. I don’t think I’m going to look at Sanaan’s apartment after all. If things work out with the seminary, that’s what I’m going to do. I figure I’ll hear something tomorrow, when the workweek starts back up.

The sun’s been out the last few days! It’s 23 degrees right now. It feels good.

Alright. That’s it for now. On to paperwork…

Much Love.

Untouched.

10:15 p.m. – CZ time

Friday! Yeaaah, weekend! One week down, eleven to go. (Seventy-nine days, to be exact.)

The days at school are getting better. The kids are great – really. They’re so smart and respectful, they love to read, and they actually care about their “coursework.” It’s a private school, so, as you can imagine, these kids are all well-kept (er, …they’re loaded). Paula told me that they joke with one kid who’s from a particularly wealthy Russian family. Even though they tease him about it, they think the kid’s family has connections to the mafia. Seriously...

I had coffee today. DANG do I feel better!

I saw a black kid today – First one since I’ve been here! Whoa…a black Brit.

It’s 28 degrees. Time to break out the shorts. My jaw hurts from uncontrollably clenching my teeth in the cold. BUT – it’s 17 degrees at home! Haha! Now you can feel like you’re right here with me. :)

I have a toothbrush! It even came with a little cover. Celebration! And I bought some cereal that contains some sort of fruit (?), and more Dove chocolate. I completed my first successful grocery store excursion. I had some bread with supper tonight that came out of a random open pile in the store. People just grab the little loaf they want and shove it in a bag. This wasn’t new to me, but I still find it a little…dirty…to eat bread that’s been touched by (probably) many people.
It didn’t stop me from eating it though.
It was dang good.

Each day gets better. I’ve actually had a chance to chill and think about what I’m doing right now. I started looking at cheap plane tickets for half-term break week…excitement has begun to bubble up inside of me again. I saw a ticket to Venice for 10 Euros…TEN FREAKIN’ EUROS! I could hop all the way through Italy, (Venice, Rome, Florence…even go down to Malta,) sleep in hostels and eat mostly cheap and it wouldn’t come close to the amount I paid for my plane ticket to get to Prague in the first place! Well, maybe it’d come out even. Still. Crazy.

I’m in Europe. !!

I dare not say I’m over my homesickness. That won’t happen. But, I feel like myself again. I’m adapting.

It’s kindof odd that being in the classroom feels like home to me. I mean, in an internship, that’s supposed to be the scary part, right? Living is the scary part for me right now…well, the unknown part. The mysterious part. Ooh. When I say it like that…it sounds pretty cool…actually,
I MAY have a place to live! . . . a.) a guy from the school has offered to let me rent one of his rooms. He just had a guy move out Wednesday. He’s considering $300 a month (a steal for me). And he lives in the centre (downtown…the good part of Prague…the part with all the sights). OR b.) I might be able to stay on-campus at the International Baptist Theological Seminary. I’d have a studio-type place. It’d be around $550 a month. I’d be near a church, near people I could mingle with, fairly close to the center and EISP. Soooo, we’re waiting to see how this all pans out. We’ve also put a bulletin in the school newsletters to see if any of the parents have anything to offer. We’ll see what happens there, too.

I have The Veronicas’ new song in my head -- “Untouched.” Relevant, right? I also tend to get stuck on Lady Gaga’s “Just Dance.” I have no excuses. It just happens.

ok. late here. need sleep.
much love.

EISP

8:00 p.m. - CZ time

Yesterday was my first day as an intern...an international intern. It was good. Mostly observed. Met people. But was still exhausted. I couldn't sleep the night before for wondering what the day would bring. Well, the kids amazed me. They love to read..really! And all of them travelled over their break...to Austria, France, Switzerland, Germany, South Africa, or the States! These kids have been more places before they've turned 15 than I've been in my life. It's crazy! Awesome, but crazy. Of course, most of these families have the means to travel. I mean, if you can afford to pay $20 - 22,000 to send your kid to an International School, you can afford a weeklong get-away to ski in the Alps. They're right next door, for pete's sake.
Last night was rough.
I've had it with GST. I dunno where I'm supposed to live. I'm alone. Gag. Anyway, let's not talk about it.
Today was much better, even if my eyes were puffy all day. The sun actually came out. The temp was up to 18 degrees F. I got a lead or two on an apt. (fingers crossed). I'm designing a bulletin board - a collage for Romeo and Juliet (PERFECT!) - and might be doing some team-teaching next week. I talked to Mr. Keech today; he's super nice (and the equivalant of the high school principal).
I think I'm starting to get my guts back. I've kinda curled up into a ball and felt sorry for myself. My fire is being rekindled. It's about time for a kick-a theme song to start bumpin'.

I keep receiving little encouragements: notes, posts, messages. You guys have NO idea how wonderful that is. Thank you.

I wrote back to my supervisor and layed out the "living" situation. If they don't wanna help me find a place to sleep, by golly, they're gonna have to straight up tell me. I'm not making it easy to be brushed off.

Mitchell's webcam is in the mail... YAHOOO!!! Get excited. :):):):)

I'm gonna head to bed early...I need the extra shut-eye. Tomorrow is a not-so-hard day. We have lots of breaks. That will be a nice breather.

Much Love.

Downtown!

5:20 p.m. - Czech time/ 10:20 a.m. - Home time

We just got back from driving around the city. It is amazing! Prague Castle is HUGE - I love it. I saw two Starbucks, D&G, Cartier, Dior, omigosh...other stores that this country girl has never even heard of. The architecture is beautiful, the lights are gorgeous. I can't wait till it warms up a bit so I can go walk around and take pictures like a real tourist. :)

I figured I should get this post up asap...The last few haven't sounded so exciting, and I don't want you to get the wrong idea. I'm still excited about what there is to come...and the Bowlins are better than perhaps given credit for in my last post. Though there were some awkward moments this weekend, that, again, is typical, I would think, of someone in my situation. They told me lots about the history of the country, the culture, and how to avoid pick-pocketing (very important!) We walked through a bigger mall, hence the naming of stores above. It was crazy! I'm ready to shop!

Work begins tomorrow. School is in session and I'm sure I'll have plenty to say about it. Until then, much love.

Weekend Fun?

1:00 p.m. - CZ time/6:00 a.m. - Home time

So, last night was "fun night" in Bowlin house. It was described as the night "all their vices come out." Don't get me wrong, it's their house; they can do what they want. I just get a little awkward around so much language, cigarette smoke and wine (I don't have a big problem with this stuff...but believe me, there was plenty) Eh, Europe. I had to come up and take a shower before going to bed. I didn't want my sheets to smell smokey. Maybe this makes me a prude. However, I became quite good at Wii bowling. I bowled the best game of my life - 224!

Anyway, that's what this is all about, right? Learning. What I do and don't want to apply to my style of livng/teaching. Well, there you have it: Lesson #1. I must learn to really accept others with drastic differences...if I can live in the middle of such things, I can surely deal with others in a classroom.

Ok, on to better things. Tonight, Paula wants to take me on a "driving tour" of downtown...let me see the sights. Maybe I'll get to see Old Town this weekend after all. :)

Suitcase #2 came in. Hooray! But, for the life of me, I can't find my toothbrush in either case. I swear. I guess I'm going to have to buy a Czech-ish one. How's that for a first purchase?

Alright, especially after last night, I need some sweet religion. On to Sunday's best...

much love.

Trip to the mall!

2:25 p.m.-CZ time

I woke up at 9:45 again this morning. Which is ok. I'm slowly adapting and feeling like myself again. Paula took me to the mall. We got some groceries from Tesco -- a mega-Kroger. I'm pretty sure they sold octopus in the meat section...and maybe cow liver? It looked like liver, and it was big. Of course, I can't read Czech, so I don't know for sure.
I did notice some American items: Skippy peanut butter, Tide, Orbit gum...etc. The alcohol section took up 1/4 of the store. Really.

I used an ATM and it worked! My first Czech Korunas. (I've learned that it's pronounced "crowns," and not "ka-roo-nas."...ha.)

We walked through an H&M store (yay!)...I attempted to do the math of the prices in my head. I'm getting the hang of it. I haven't bought anything yet; I'm just excited they have an H&M!

After window-shopping, we walked by a cafe'/bar of some sort. "Viva la vida" was playing. :)
For lunch, we ate at a little Italian place in the mall. They had some really good pizza. It doesn't beat Brick Oven, but it was pretty good. Drinks were in glass bottles...and the silverware was already on the table when you sat down. Even the knives!

We just talked to the airport. My second bag has arrived and should be delivered this evening around 6. Thank Heaven!

Due to the ridiculously low temperature, though, we won't be going to Old Town tonight. :( We're eating here at the house. Anna and her boyfriend are supposed to be here...I'm told it's going to be "lively." After wandering through the wine section for a good portion of our grocery trip, I can't imagine what I should be expecting...

The dogs were delivered last night. These things are huge! Max is this 135 lb white monster. He's sweet...but I wouldn't cross him. I'll try to get a pic of him soon. I don't know the other one's name. It's a girl I think. A shaggy gray thing and not as big. They both stink. Apparently, the kennel that kept them while Paula was in the States didn't practice proper dog hygiene. Ugh.

The cats are good: Opi, Richard and Jimmy Buffet. They're fun...a little whiny, but fun.

School starts on Monday. I'm supposed to be thinking of a Romeo and Juliet themed bulletin board...

Still apartment hunting. Who knows how that's going to end up.

more later...

Suitcase #1

I have a suitcase! Hallelujah! My big one arrived at the school. I have medicine to help my tummy, soap for a shower and my chi is in one piece!

Now, the smaller one should arrive tomorrow. Fingers crossed.

I attempted to get money out of an ATM earlier...it didn't work. I'm hoping that particular machine was just moody.

I discovered the name of the "village" I'm living in right now - Lipence. (i think)

More later...

:)

Waiting for bags...

Jan. 9 - 2:30 p.m. (7:30 a.m. home time)


So, today I was introduced to Czech country music, ate at McDonald's, took a mini-tour of the school and discovered that one of my bags made it to the airpoirt and the other is in Paris.

It just keeps getting better.

Those bags have seen more places than I have. There's no telling what they've been through. I swear, if my Chi is broken...

Fun tidbits:
- the Pussycat Dolls are gonna be in concert soon. All PCD fans, get yourself a ticket to Prague!
- we have reservations at a restaurant in Old Town tomorrow night. That's exciting.
- I have yet to find an ATM. Working on that.
- My stomach is adapting. Not necessarily to the food as much as the time change.
- The bag that IS at the airport should be delivered directly to the house. So perhaps I will have my stuff soon...I want a shower!

more to come...

Arrival

Jan. 8 - 4:46 p.m. Prague time

I don't know where to start...I left mom and dad and Mitchell at Memphis and got pretty sad about it. Of course, I knew that was gonna happen, but it hurts a lot more than I'd anticipated. Once through security, I successfully navigated my way to my gate and onto the plane. We pull away from the hangar and the left engine won't fire...something about a "starter malfunction." We pull back up and everyone gets off. I roam back to the front ticket desk to try to catch the 3:00 flight. The lady pulls me out of line and to the front because I'm the only one that actually has a chance to make my connection flight at 6:10. My ticket gets changed and by 2:45, I'm sprinting back through security to board the 3:00. My seat is in the middle (not-so-great) but I'm wedged between some very nice people. Praise Jesus! A man on his way to Virginia and a lady on her way home (Atlanta)...she didn't like flying. I arrive in Atlanta - it is huge. I arrive in concourse B and take a train to my gate at E16. En route, I call Dad and Mitchell...stop to tie my shoe..that sort of thing...and board the plane. By the time I get seated, I notice I don't have the pillow Stephanie made for me. I carry it everywhere. I got up and looked down the aisle. I told the stewardess I'd dropped it, and she went and looked around the gate. No success. It must have fallen out from underneath my arm as I was rushing. :'( I head back to my seat. The window seat next to me is eventually filled by a boy named Andy. He's 18 and from Oklahoma (OSU)...and the stewardess that checked for my pillow is his mom. He was very friendly, and a much-needed smile. They'll be in Prague for a couple days.
Anyway, when I arrived in Prague, all I wanted to do was crash. I made it to baggage claim, and waited. ...and waited. For an hour, I waited. No bags. The lady at the counter said they'd left me a message that my luggage was still in Memphis. It will be sent to Atlanta, New York and then Prague. It should be to the airport by 10a.m. tomorrow. Nice, right?

Needless to say, things have been rough so far. But, the first few days are supposed to be, right? I'm going to be optimistic.

I'm very homesick and, honestly, wondering what I'm doing here. Andy said something on the plane...he asked me why I wanted to do my internship abroad. He thought I was getting paid to do it..I said I wasn't. He said,"Well, if you've gotta do it, might as well make it an adventure."

Maybe that's it. Maybe I'll get situated and things will get rolling and then something will click. "This is what I'm doing here!"

We'll see. Regardless, I'll keep you updated.

Pray Hard. Much Love.

PrettyRadAmericanGirlUndertakingEducation

January 6

I leave tomorrow.

Kudos to Steph and Ciara for assistance with my first title.


Here goes nothing.