Funny picture that I recently saw posted on Facebook. We teachers go WILD!

If only...

Outside is a wondrously white and chilly land in Ostrava. Finally, the trees have some company and don't look so bare since they are now heavily laden with snow. Many of you may have seen on the news that it has been a frosty winter here in Central Europe recently, but it has been lacking snow. Now the blizzards and flurries have begun in full force! We are no longer having -5 degree temperatures, but instead the piles of snow that make me glad I don't have a car here to clean off! However, if I were at home, maybe I would have a snow day like these girls in this poem. Hope you are thriving during this winter!

Snow Day 

by Billy Collins

Today we woke up to a revolution of snow,
its white flag waving over everything,
the landscape vanished,
not a single mouse to punctuate the blankness,
and beyond these windows

the government buildings smothered,
schools and libraries buried, the post office lost
under the noiseless drift,
the paths of trains softly blocked,
the world fallen under this falling.

In a while I will put on some boots
and step out like someone walking in water,
and the dog will porpoise through the drifts,
and I will shake a laden branch,
sending a cold shower down on us both.

But for now I am a willing prisoner in this house,
a sympathizer with the anarchic cause of snow.
I will make a pot of tea
and listen to the plastic radio on the counter,
as glad as anyone to hear the news

that the Kiddie Corner School is closed,
the Ding-Dong School, closed,
the All Aboard Children's School, closed,
the Hi-Ho Nursery School, closed,
along with -- some will be delighted to hear --

the Toadstool School, the Little School,
Little Sparrows Nursery School,
Little Stars Pre-School, Peas-and-Carrots Day School,
the Tom Thumb Child Center, all closed,
and -- clap your hands -- the Peanuts Play School.

So this is where the children hide all day,
These are the nests where they letter and draw,
where they put on their bright miniature jackets,
all darting and climbing and sliding,
all but the few girls whispering by the fence.

And now I am listening hard
in the grandiose silence of the snow,
trying to hear what those three girls are plotting,
what riot is afoot,
which small queen is about to be brought down.

Holiday during the Holiday

Happy 20-12! Hope this year is finding you well! Here in Ostrava, we have had an extreme cold front. Or as some of my students call it "froze." It took all the way to January 15th to get any snow to stick, but I fear it is here to stay for a while now. This has been the weirdest winter ever in terms of weather. I just hope the snow doesn't stay now until June!


I have been busy as ever in the last month. Part of that time was because during the holiday season, I had some guests come to visit! My mom, Adam, Alexa (or Sisin as I have deemed her), and Karen all came over a few days after Christmas to hang out for 10 days. We had a blast!

Quick synopsis (Realistically it probably won't be that short): 

Me, Adam, and Alexa at the Schönbrunn Palace in Vienna

First, we met in Vienna and spent 2 1/2 days there touring around. We saw Sleeping Beauty the ballet, which was stunningly beautiful! We toured the Schönbrunn Palace, where the Hapsburgs used to live, with its gorgeous gardens even in winter time. We visited the Christmas markets and started our week long shopping spree. :-) I walked into a road sign one day which was entertaining for everyone else, including the random passer-bys walking behind us. 

Adam on The Ecstasy

We also went to a European amusement park. They are much smaller in size than US ones, but at this particular one they have the tallest ferris wheel in the world and the highest swings as well. Karen and Alexa had a good time on the 180 m high swings. (The McHenrys opted out on this one. My thoughts on swing rides, I do not trust a little chain to keep me up there. Personal issues on that one. However, you may see flaws with my logic in a few minutes). Next, we made our way toward the ferris wheel. On the way, my normally brilliant brother decided that we should ride a ride called "Ecstasy." I said, "Sure! Looks fun!" Alexa said, "No way! Well, ok, if you both are." The best way I can describe this ride is to say that it spun you in every possible way, including sideways and upside down. Needless to say, it did not produce feelings of euphoria. I think we all made it about 30 seconds before deciding that we absolutely hated that ride. However, I was the only one that was actually ill following the ride. And what might you ask were Mom and Karen doing at this time? They were laughing hysterically and pointing us toward the nearest trash cans, saying we told you not to! I have to say not our most intelligent moment in life. The ferris wheel ride following wasn't much fun either.

Karen buying Marionette toys in Prague

Following these exciting days in beautiful Austria, we headed by train to Prague. For me, going there was much more comfortable. I know the language and the city and didn't feel half as lost as I did in Vienna; however, I think it only got worse for everyone else as German sometimes at least looks like English, but Czech doesn't at all. We walked all around the city and saw Old Town, the Castle, Charles Bridge, Wenceslas Square (yes, as in the Good King Wenceslas from the Christmas carol), and went shopping in the little shops and markets.  

Adam, Alexa, and I from one of the most beautiful views of Prague

The most thrilling part of our time in Prague was visiting Charles Bridge (the Bridge that crosses the Vltava River in the older part of the city and is famous for all of the statues that are on it) at midnight on New Year's Eve. The ridiculous crush of people, the cold, and the crazy people with their own personal fireworks (that is how they celebrate New Year's here) made it nearly impossible to enjoy the beautiful firework display taking place over the river. But we managed to make it out with only minor incident, and now we know never to repeat this experience again. Sometimes tv is better!

Mom and I looking at the tower in Stramberk

The last part of our trip was spent in my new city, Ostrava. While we were here, we took a short day trip to a place that looks like it belongs in the Sound of Music. The hills and mountains surrounding it are beautiful! There is a cave that you can walk through and a tower that you have to hike up the hill to get to. I must say, they were all troopers, I sure did make them hike around a lot. We walked quite the distance while they were here!

Us at my Czech "family's" home, Kveta and Pavel Klamka

Ostrava was great, because we spent much of the time hanging out. They were able to see the office where I work, meet my teammates, see where I live, eat in some of my favorite restaurants, ride the same public transportation that I take everyday, meet some of my friends and colleagues, and really just get to know a little of the city that I have truly come to love. I really enjoyed getting to introduce them to "real-life" Czech. The other great part of them being here was getting to just hang out at my flat for some of the time. We were able to play the wonderful game introduced to us by the Osberg family, Elevens, and just be together as we have precious little time to do.


Needless to say, I had a wonderful time while they were here! I am so grateful for the time that we had together and it really made my holiday time so much more special (even though it was hard to get back into work mode after they left, hence the lack of a blog for a month).


Well, I will be writing another update really soon! I would love to hear some things about all of you! Hope you are doing well! And if anyone else wants to come visit, I'm basically a professional tour guide now. ;-)