English...no wait Czech...oh shoot that's Spanish

The past few weeks have been a whirlwind and at the center of it has been an intensive beginner's Czech language course at the Caledonian School. Monday-Friday, 9am-12:15pm I could be found in a room off of Narodni Tria, a few blocks from the National Theatre with 8 other students learning Czech. All of us from different regions of the world and learning Czech for different reasons. For myself there were moments of laughter, frustration and holding back tears when teh words wouldn't come out right, and moments of shear satisfaction and joy when I was able to communicate and understand. I was also pleasantly surprised to discover that my Spanish came back very quickly to my brain. If I coulsn't find the word in my heard in Czech the Spanish word came flying in. Luckily, I didn't blurt out any Spanish words during class.

I am discovering that I can comprehend Czech better than I can speak it. And I was thrilled when I had to ask for directions in Czech, received them in Czech and understood the entire exchange. My Mladez (the young adults at the church) friends don't let me quit my Czech language learning. Every Thursday you could find us talking and me attempting to remember what I learned that day, or me trying to figure out what page number the song is on in the songbook. You could also find my workbook being passed around and laughed at. Then the moment comes when I remember what I learned and begin to slowly speak it. Bodies are leaned in to hear the Czech words stubble out of my moth and my face turns redder and redder as I speak until I am glowing red. Gentle voices correct and encourage me. What a blessing!

"The Cupid Shuffle" Can Help You Remember Your Directions!

Dobry den! (Good day!) Time has been flying since Easter two weeks ago. Much has happened but I will try to just hit the highlights.
Marta's son and daughter-in-law came into Prague the last weekend in April. It was wonderful to meet them and I was blessed by their visit. We went to Vsyehrad to see the gardens and cemetery. We then proceeded to Starbucks. This was my first time to Starbucks since arriving in Prague and I learned that Prague is the only place in the Czech Republic who has Starbucks. We continued to visit other gardens in Prague. It is incredible to me (and a blessing) that I can be in the middle of the city yet feel like I'm in the woods. There are gardens near Prague Castle that are definitely worth visiting should you ever find yourself in Prague.
Our church last week celebrated the 60th wedding anniversary of a couple! Flowers were presented to the couple and they repeated their wedding vows to each other. It was beautiful! I teared up a little as I sat there thinking about how rare it is to see a couple married for 60 years. I'm glad I was able to witness this occasion.
This week I began my Czech language study this week. It is a 3 week intensive course that meets every morning for 3 hours Monday through Friday. There are 9 of us in the class from all over the globe. Our teacher is very patient with us and dynamic. She normally has me laughing within the first hour of class. I have learned how to ask questions to clarify something, formal and informal ways of asking questions and greeting people, numbers, how to give directions, and what buildings are called (i.e. theatre, store). I was studying my direction words on the metro one morning on the way to class and thought of the song "The Cupid Shuffle". During my time at HDC as a participant, we would have dance parties to this song. The dance has you take 4 steps to the right, 4 steps to the left, 4 kicks to the front, and then you do the twist as you turn around. So I began to sing in my head vpravo (right), vlevo (left), for the kicks I sing nahore (up), dole (down) and repeat and then for the twist I sing uprostred (center). It's quite fun and hey it helps me remember my directions! Overall lanugage study has been fun but exhausting. However, I'm enjoying that I can understand more of what others are saying around me. I'm also enjoying the opportunity to speak to my Czech friends in Czech even if it doesn't last very long. They are also willing to teach me more vocabulary words which is good.
I had the privilege to teach 5th grade at an international school in the afternoons this week. It was wonderful to work with the kids and be able to practice teaching skills because I know that sometime this year I will find myself in a classroom teaching English.
God continues to remind me that I am His. I am learning as my schedule gets busier that it is important to take time to listen to what He has to say to me. In my moments of exhaustion, He tells me that I'm His beloved daughter and I feel an overwhelming sense of peace and gratitude.