observing. exploring. absorbing.

yesterday was intense orientation day. we were taught about everything we need to know with the organization we are with, the English classes, and the city and people. We got bus passes, went grocery shopping, went out to dinner and then to a basketball game of one of the missionaries here. it was a packed day and i am feeling really excited about this month.

today as we walked through the city i just couldn't help but think how seriously blessed i feel right now. i woke up early for my first classroom observation today and took a bus and tram to a high school in the city. this month i will be doing 30 hours of observation in language schools, high school, elementary schools, and business english classes. i will also be teaching 30 hours of intensive english classes and conversation hours. so today was a taste of what is going on...

it was sooo cool to get in the public school and really experience the culture here. it was the senior classes last day so they do a celebration all day... they choose a theme and dress up like that theme and then go to the city center and raise money through begging and being obnoxious. the class from my high school was dressed as smurfs. it was excellent. their costumes and body paint were hilarious. during my time at the school i was able to observe a pre-intermediate english class and also a spanish class. they threw me in the spanish class, excited that i speak spanish and wanting me to help a little. the teacher is a beginner spanish speaker so i was able to help a little and it was really cool to see those teachers in action. i realized my love and passion for spanish and desire to keep pursuing that language.

as we walked around the city after classes i was reminded so much of sevilla and all of the similarities. the buildings and atmosphere just reminded me soo much of spain and yet it is really different here. czech has a different set of historical mess apart from spain's muslim/catholic battle... they have WWII and the intense socialist background that is obviously a huge part of czechs story. aside from their history it is obvious that they are rebuilding their culture and have become very western european in their ways of life. i like the city a lot and feel like as time goes on i will understand the culture more and more.

so for now my observations have been-

-older Czechs are super quiet in public- i have heard this is due to their years under the socialist government and during the war

-europe is so much "greener", public transportation is excellent {love the trams} but also there are no free plastic bags at the grocery store. think about how much plastic waste this cuts back on-- everyone brings their own bags and its really not that difficult. we are so lazy and ignorant in the name of convenience.

-czech food is really great & so fattening... uh oh.

-i have officially converted from country girl to city girl throughout the course of this year.

čau,

laura

Arrived in Vienna

After very little sleep {maybe 2 hours through the night} I have arrived in London Heathrow airport. I have never been fond of the idea of visiting London but my mind has been changed from this airport experience. The view of London from and surrounding area from the plane was B-E-A-utiful. Seriously. {The sunrise might have helped.} And besides that, the accent, which I had previously assumed would annoy me, is actually awesome and I love it. British people are intriguing- in a funny way… for some reason they seem like fake people to me. Not in a rude way, they are just so snoody and smiley and teethy and accenty. J

Anyway-- I am feeling the peek of anxiety and nerves as I approach a time where I will be in Vienna, alone, not speaking the language and finding a bus to Brno, Czech Republic. It seems random, going to the Czech.. in fact a lady sitting next to me in London informed me she was going to Rome and was pleased when her destination seemed cooler than mine. Well Mrs. London Teeth, I have been to Rome and I didn’t love it. I am excited to see a new part of Europe.. outside the romance language section of the world. Although, to be honest, I would love to walka couple gates down and jump the flight to Madrid. AHHH I miss Spain more than ever right NOW. I haven’t been to a country where I couldn’t understand the language for an extended period of time…. Pray for me.

Cheers to new adventures, new lessons and new insights.

….

Recent Update: Vienna has free WIFI! I am too tired and nervous to get up and explore, plus I actually have TWO backpacks right now because one has things I will be getting rid of in Brno. So I am not a cool chick with a backpackers backpack but instead a ridiculous looking person with a small backpack and a big one. Yep, I’m a loser. Here I sit, Vienna, Austria.

All of my fears came true when I walked off the plane. I had taken my contacts out, an attempt to sleep. I NEVER have problems sleeping- but it didn’t help. So, I walked off the plane BLIND and practically deaf because I couldn’t understand a dang thing. Everyone all of a sudden switched from English to German and I was left in the dust. {stupid Americans, so uneducated in languages} Anyway, I think I will be okay, I found free internet, am attempting to take in the Austrian air as I wait for my colleagues trying not to fall asleep because I have a ridiculous amount of cash in my bag.

This is so much fun and it gives me a rush to be so scared and excited but it would be so much more fun with one other person… so I am glad that my plans after Czech will be with someone else J.

Familiar things thus far: WC- thank you Europe! Water closet always stands for bathroom. McCafe- McDonalds is so much classier in Europe. Euros- love them and hate them all at the same time.

And the Italian couple sitting across from me, I can understand more of what they’re saying than what the German guy next to me is saying.

To be continued…