i'm back baby!

Well I am back from my awesome Christmas vacation! Here are some highlights:

-While flying there on Sunday, the pilot decided that we should turn around halfway through the trip and pick up some more passengers! I was 3 hours late and Aunt Vicki said she had an ulcer by the time I finally arrived!

Here we are in front of the astronomical clock in Old Town.  Doesn't she look relieved that I made it?!

-I discovered that it is perfectly acceptable for a grown man to say "Bye, bye Lady!" to you when you are exiting his restaurant. Below are some garlic snails that we sampled on Christmas Eve. They were pretty good!

-"Roasted pork neck" is about as good as it sounds!

-Substitution works for most things...even classics like Cheesy Potatoes!

-Just because the picture of the classic Czech Christmas cake looks not so good doesn't mean it is. Actually, the cake was delicious! If you ever get to try it, you definitely should!

-Having the Chinese DVD copy of The Bourne Ultimatum skip 15 minutes really isn't that big of a deal! The movie is still amazing!

-Buildings and places from the 10th century are really interesting, even if you don't know what they are!

-Culture shock can happen to you in a country where you don't even live!

-Peanut Butter makes an amazing Christmas gift.

All in all, it was a great trip. It was so good to be able to spend Christmas with some of my family. I am so thankful that I was able to see them. 

Enjoying the stockings my mom sent. Thanks mom!

Me with Amy and Joel in Wensceslas Square.

i'm leaving...

On a jet plane...but I know when I'll be back again!

I am going to visit my Aunt and Uncle for a few days in Prague! I can't wait to see them! I am so thankful that I can spend the holidays with some of my family! Maybe I will even get to have a White Christmas! That would be fantastic!

I hope that everyone has a wonderful Merry Christmas and that you all remember the reason that we celebrate! Peace out!

closer and closer

Only 5 more days! I love December 20th, because it just feels like the height of anticipation for Christmas.

Today our language class went out on a little field trip to a restaurant. We had to sign a permission slip and everything! The food was pretty good, and I even tried some fried shark! Yeah pretty random I know but it just tasted like fish. Tomorrow is my last day at this school and I'm a little sad. I've had the same teacher for almost 2 months, and we've all gotten to know each other pretty well.

Now I am off to eat a candy cane and listen to some Christmas music! Enjoy the season!

keep on keepin' on

It's my two month anniversary of being here! Time certainly flies! It's also officially the week before Christmas! I am definitely not envious of everyone that is trying to dig out of the huge snowstorm that apparently dumped almost a foot of snow on Michigan!

I have one more week of class, then it's off the Prague for a few days! I am so excited about going, and maybe we will have a White Christmas there!

Oh yeah, I ate pancakes yesterday. Real ones with yummy syrup! and bacon! They were delicious. Pretty sure that pancakes are my all time favorite food.

Obviously I am in a random mood right now! It's all good though because I am off to bed! Have a great week!

funny mc fun fun

Alright so the other day I decided to walk home from school instead of taking the metro because the weather was beautiful. On the way, I heard some of the music from High School Musical coming from in front of one of the museums. I looked over there, and there were a lot of people around all watching something. I'm not kidding, I almost died thinking "Okay this is it...I am finally going to meet Zac Efron! What should I say to him? Do I have something that he can autograph?" So I walked over to where the music was coming from, and it was a taping for a new show that is starting soon. It's a dance contest-type thing, kind of like the show 'So You Think You Can Dance'. I was a little disappointed that it wasn't what I thought it was, but it was still really cool to watch a taping of a t.v. show.

The Christmas countdown is now almost in the single digits! I wrapped some presents last night and it really made me feel all festive and stuff. There's only one more week of class left too! We had a surprise party for our teacher today, just because we love her. It was awesome. Clearly we are the best class ever!

Have a great weekend! Remember the reason for the season!

it's kinda sorta beginning to....

...look a lot like Christmas! haha! The weather here is definitely different than Michigan and it's crazy to me how warm it is considering that Christmas is exactly 2 weeks from today! That's right! Get your shopping done!

Let's see, what's new...I am currently watching a football match on tv and looking at our awesome Christmas light display. We have these crazy blinking lights in our window, and even a little tree! It's kind of Charlie brown-ish but it's cute.

Yesterday I got to go swimming again. It was great and made me really happy! I hope that I can get into a class soon and meet some other swimmers. I also did some Christmas shopping yesterday, but with the knowledge that whatever I bought I have to ship the the U.S.!

Well, I hope you are enjoying the season and remembering the reason!

ode to the pastry of yummy goodness!

Okay so this is me with one of the best pastries ever! It's deliciously awesome for so many reasons:
1) It's freshly made every day
2) It's usually still warm
3) It's croissant dough
4) It's covered in chocolate
5) It's shaped like a heart!

So yeah they know how to do their pastries here, that is for sure!
Bonus, if you come visit, I will treat you to one!

Alright, that's all for now. Have a good week!

Happy December!

That's right...only 24 more days! Last night we were out and got to see some Christmas lights and decorations. It made me really happy and excited for Christmas and the preparation leading up to it! The movie 'The Santa Clause" with Tim Allen is on t.v. today and I am totally watching it! I think that I have seen it enough times in English to know what's going on!

Let's see...what else...language school is going good. I feel like I am learning a lot and I really like the other people in the class and the teacher. I found a pool near our apartment where I have been swimming a few times and I love it! I am hoping to get into an adult class but we'll see if that works out.

Remember, like Buddy the Elf said, "The best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear!"

it´s been a while!

Hey! Sorry it´s been so long between updates. Things have been a little crazy busy here. It´s cool though because it´s a good kind of busy. We have passed the one month mark of langauge school! yay! I´m really amazed at how much I am learning and remembering. Sometimes I even catch myself thinking in this new language! It´s pretty awesome.

So yeah thanksgiving was yesterday. We took the day off of school and had a huge feast! When I say feast I mean so much food it was insane! It was all super good though and it was fun to be around friends and have a great time. I just can´t believe that we are now officially in the holiday season though! It seems like time is flying by! I´m lovin´ it though, and every day I am learning more and more.

whooo hooo!

Here's us having fun at the park the other day! Good times!

Well, it's the weekend! Aww yeah! Nothing really new to report here. Things are going great! I'm amazed at how much I can learn in one day about so many different things! Have a great day!

2 week anniversary!

Well, I have officially lived here for 2 weeks! It's kinda crazy...in a way it feels like I just got here yesterday, but it also feels like I've been here for much longer. We went to one of the many amazing museums that are near our apartment Sunday (for free!) and it was great. Today was the first day of a new adventure: Language School! It was pretty relaxed and not like any school or class I'd ever been in. I liked it a lot and I think it will help me learn a lot, so yay!

tuna pizza?! really?

Well we are settling into our apartment and things are going good. We start language school on Monday and I am looking forward to that! It will be fun to get to be a student again instead of a teacher! I am looking forward to actually understanding what the people around me are saying! Plus, there is a holiday on Thursday so that means no school! Whoo hooo!

Ok, so pretty sure there are definitely some interesting foods here, but I think the biggest stretch for me would be tuna pizza! Does that sound appetizing to anyone?! Although, I tried octopus the other day and I must say, it wasn't awful!

I hope things are going good with all of you!

the city...

We have finally arrived! We moved into our apartment yesterday and, oh yeah, it's pretty awesome! Today we went around the city and saw some major tourist sites and some other intersting things, and ate very yummy food! Things are going really good so far. Everyone that we've met has been really great and helpful. We are going to Ikea tomorrow, and I am pretty pumped about that! I will write more later!

getting closer...

Well I am spending my last few days in the states here in Michigan with friends and family. Things are going good, but the time is definitely flying by! I can't believe that I leave on Monday! God is so good, and He has provided in so many ways and proven Himself faithful to me so many times lately. What an awesome Father!

bustin' out!

Well we are officially done with our time here in Virginia! It's just crazy how the time has flown by! Tomorrow I will head back to Michigan for a few days, then it's off to begin my life in Europe! Could I be anymore excited?! I don't think so!

visual confirmation!

Well, I know you've been waiting for it, so here's a fun pic of me and Laura! We've been having such a great time here getting to know each other.

Have a great weekend!

time flies!

Where has the time gone? We only have about 2 and a half weeks left here! This week was crazy awesome. The DC trip was really great. The funniest thing was when we were by the White House and the President's Helicopter landed. I waved to him, and I'm pretty sure he saw me, even though I didn't see him :)!

Today has been a good day of rest and rejuvenation. I love Saturdays!

Hope everyone is having a great weekend!

yes, I'm still here!

Thanks so much to everyone who left me comments or sent me fun things in the mail! It's always good to get encouragement!

Have a great day and a wonderful week!

the weekend!

It's Friday! Yay! It's my turn to get shots today...boo! But at least we get fun band-aids!

Yesterday we had a special meal in the cafeteria. It was a south asian meal with curried chicken and a bunch of toppings, like coconut and mango. It was so good!

Tonight is the parent's night out, so basically everyone that doesn't have kids is helping to watch the kids. It should be pretty fun and probably a little crazy!

I can't believe that tomorrow is September 1st! The month of August has definitely flown by! We are almost halfway done with our time here too, which is just insane!

I hope everyone has a great weekend and a fun labor day!

Good times...

So, I am officially certified to teach ESL/EFL ! To celebrate, we went out to Mexican food, which was delicious! Just a reminder, in case anyone forgot: I love receiving mail (pacakages, cards, letters, etc.) ! If you need my address here, just let me know!

"And we, who reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into His likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit." -2 Corinthians 3:18

Awesome

Hey guys! Today has just been such a great day. We had our house church time this morning and it was a really good time of worship. We sang this song that I have never heard before but immediately fell in love with. It's called 'Praise Adonai'

Who is like Him
The Lion and the Lamb
Seated on the throne
Mountains bow down
Every ocean roars
To the Lord of hosts

Praise Adonai
From the rising of the sun
‘Til the end of every day
Praise Adonai
All the nations of the earth
All the angels and the saints
Sing praise

So yeah pretty much God is good and continues to reaveal Himself to me in new and exciting ways. I would love to hear back from you about what's going in your lives! Love ya!

My First Blog!

Hey guys! I'm still kickin' it here in VA. This was our first full week of sessions and everything, and it was really neat. I'm way pumped because tomorrow there is a High School Musical 2 party!! Aw yeah! Laura is also a fan, so we are totally going and hanging out with all the kids. Oh yeah, there is also a Chick-fil-A in town, which I haven't eaten since I graduated from UU last May! We went there on Saturday night and it was soo yummy!