Say Yes More Than You Say No

For my first couple of days in Ostrava my brain was doing a lot of mental gymnastics, trying to figure out why all of the Caucasian people don’t speak English. I’m realizing that all of the places I’ve lived abroad, it was always easy to spot an English speaking ex-pat from a native person. But here I look just like a native person and vice versa, the native Czech people look like me! Actually my first morning here, I almost ran up to the first person I saw, to greet them excitedly in English, proud that I had already found a new friend! Thankfully I stopped myself at the last second, realizing where I am, and that there’s a 98% chance he won’t understand a word I’m saying. It is a strange thing to admit to myself, but for the first couple of days, I had to actively tell my brain that Caucasian does not mean English speaker.

After the first week, I was used to the idea that I can’t communicate with any of my neighbors or local businesses, but life was back to what I might consider normal with prep week, and the first week of school. Sometimes it doesn’t feel like I’m an entire ocean away, because school is a language I am fluent in. Prepping lessons, teaching, staff meetings ... all a typical day of work. And I’m back to mental gymnastics each afternoon when I walk home and think about trying a new restaurant, only to remember that I can’t order food. Well, I guess I can point to different items on the menu, I just have no idea what will be served! Kind of a fun game actually. 

Unlike Prague, I have access to complete Czech immersion. I’m exposed to all of the written and verbal language constantly. Czech language is EVERYWHERE. But I’m not making many connections yet. So far, nothing is written the way I think it should sound. I need to go back to the beginning and learn the Czech ABCs. Learning how to read and speak food vocabulary is my top priority as well as words used to label the bathrooms. I know man and woman, I know boy and girl, but I was confused by the bathroom labels at the SOCCER BAR AROUND THE CORNER FROM MY FLAT! So I used the google translate camera in order to read the names. One came up as “ladies”. So when I aimed the camera at the other bathroom, I thought it might translate to “gentlemen”. But this is what I saw instead ...

Gentlemen must think a lot of themselves! 😂
I’m also on the lookout for the words male and female. I never realized that we have so many words for describing gender.

But let’s talk about that soccer bar! I was very excited to see a stadium just across the river from my school and my flat. That stadium is the home field for Banik, and Jindriska is their home bar. So I’m  always likely to find soccer (though I’m apparently in Europe now and I need to start calling it football) on the tv at all hours!

[Inside Jindriska. I’m hoping I get to learn to sing this song in the stadium.]

Jindriska is just around the corner from my flat and they allow dogs inside and outside. I’m not sure if Jett loves it at much as I do, but I think it might be our second home!

[Outdoor area of Jindriska] 

Moving on.
In Kindergarten we had a saying for whenever the elves ask permission to do something: Say yes more than you say no. Settling in here with jet lag, and a new school system, a completely new grade level, new units, and a new language, well let’s just say that I’m constantly exhausted and ready for a nap. But I’m having a hard time saying no to people. Not just for FOMO, but I miss an opportunity to become more independent here. I’ve said yes to almost everything, and I was so exhausted, but when Isa asked if I wanted to go to Poland despite being the day before Opening Ceremonies at school, I had to say yes. I learned how to get to the train station, how to purchase a local and international train ticket, as well as a ticket for Jett. It was also just refreshing to spend the entire day outside with Jett, exploring, and mostly keeping my mind off of the coming week.

Cesky Tesin, Czech Republic and Cieszyn, Poland:

[Town Square in Cieszyn]

 [Town Square in Ciezyn]

[Government building in Cesky Tesin]

 [Castle in Cieszyn]

 [Honestly not sure which side of the river we were on at this point, but it was our resting area.]

[The river that defines the border of Poland and Czech Republic. We crossed back and forth so many times!]

[Isa and Jett at an overlook on the Polish side, at the castle. The river is just below, so you’re look at Czech Republic]

[Jett and I also got a proper picture for entering the Czech Republic]

At one point on the Polish side, we heard a marching band and we joined the crowds. I thought it might have been a wedding as many well dressed people were exiting the church. But then came the dignitaries and people wearing uniforms from various decades, and we knew it was something else.

We followed the parade until we they paused at a memorial. We quickly learned that Poland was commemorating the 80th anniversary of the first attack that sparked WWII. 

 [Parade through town]

[Dignitaries listening to speeches]

[WWII Memorial]

It was a somber event, that I felt very privileged to witness. Later I read the news to learn that many world leaders had travelled to Poland for other commemorations, and that the German prime minister issued a formal apology to Poland. I’m looking forward to the contrast and celebration of liberation day. 

With that, I started my first week of school with Opening Ceremonies on Monday, a half day on Tuesday, and full school days for the rest of the week. I’ve gotten to know my 14 students, and I’m extremely excited for a very interesting school year. I just want to let you know that I was introduced to all of the families and students with this picture.