+ You may have noticed (or not, because I’m not always the most reliable blogger) that it’s been silent around these parts for the last week or so. I’m alive–I’ve just been dying fighting some evil illness. I’ve learned that while the Czechs will take their children out of school for weeks if they have a cough, they don’t look kindly on their English teachers who have the daring to get ill. I couldn’t really cancel any of my lessons so I just suffered through them. Ouch!
+ I especially hate being sick this time of the year. I haven’t been to a Christmas market in a week! The horror. I am going tonight whether my body likes it or not.
+ This week also happened to be the Tuesday we had booked tickets to see The Nutcracker at the National Theatre. Since we snagged some of the last tickets available to any of the showings (also, they aren’t transferable) I sucked it up and went. I even wore my contacts in attempt to make it kind of a date night. I’m glad I did. The National Theatre is gorgeous…I’m not sure I’ve ever been in as fancy of a building. At least one that felt as decadent, with red velvet and gold and chandeliers everywhere. The show was great, although it was a strange combination of The Nutcracker and A Christmas Carol. E and I exchanged glances early on, thinking “is that Scrooge? But that’s definitely the music from the Nutcracker, right?” I definitely prefer the original Nutcracker because I hate change when it comes to my Christmas traditions, but it was still entertaining, beautiful and relaxing to hear that familiar classical music.
+ I keep meaning to publish my post detailing stories from the ESL classroom. The problem is it keeps growing, so it has to at least be two posts now! I have to admit, even though I felt like death this week (as I’m sure you have gathered by now), the kids distracted me from moping about being sick too much. One little boy lost a tooth on Thursday…and he couldn’t remember the word for “tooth” so all I saw was a small white/bloody thing being waved around. It’s been awhile since I’ve seen a recently lost tooth, so while I was trying to figure out what it was, the classroom went to chaos. There was a lot of shouting and one little girl cried because she hates blood and it cost me about twenty minutes of the lesson.
+ I’m really annoying about taking a mini-pharmacy with me wherever I go–I’ve traveled enough and I’ve learned the hard way that when you need certain medication, you need it now, and having it handy is so much better than a) spending hours trying to find it; b) trying to ask the pharmacist and having to describe your symptoms to a stranger; or c) finally realizing that in this country that medication is only available by prescription. Long-winded way of saying I’m always over-prepared in this area. Except, we just hit the four-month mark and I think the stress of moving had us sicker than normal, so my medical supplies are depleted. E is my angel and has been having discussions with the pharmacist all week, trying to find the medication I need–so far, I’ve tried about six different medications to no avail.
+ I finally decided to go to the doctor…so I went to my first Czech hospital on Friday. Our low-cost foreigner’s health insurance turns out to be good at only one hospital in the whole city (which of course takes an hour to reach). It wasn’t the worst experience I’ve ever had in a hospital (side-eye Peru) but it was far from the best. One major plus, though? Everything was free except for the prescriptions–and even those were under $20. What kind of place is this?
+ Costa Coffee has the cutest holiday coffee cups around. Plus, with their gingerbread latte you get a tiny gingerbread man cookie. #WINNING
+ Thank you all SO MUCH for your kind words on this post about our Christmas plans! I always forget how great it is to share good news with this little community, and to ask for advice. I will respond to each and every one of you once I am healthy again. You are the best! No major decisions made due to my health issues, except that the perfect little B&B we found in Bruges canceled our reservation so we had to scramble to find a new place to stay. That was fun.
+ Even in the fog of my sickness, I’ve noticed more Christmas decorations popping up around town, and I couldn’t be happier about that! I was overjoyed when my school put up their tree, too!
+ Speaking of fog…this was the frostiest/foggiest day we’ve had, so far. Usually I can see the castle from that vantage point!
+ While on the subject of weather…Prague finally had some sunny days this week! While I knew Prague would be much cloudier than Denver, I didn’t realize that it would literally be days or weeks without sun. Talk about an adjustment!
+ The big highlight of this week came Monday morning when we found a package slip and headed to the post office to pick it up (in a process that is still not smooth). The package came from our lovely friends in Colorado and contained so many goodies I got a little teary-eyed. I felt so homesick for America and it’s holiday mania in that moment! I’ve both missed mania and been glad to be away from it, but…Who else makes Nutcracker Snickers bars and peppermint Oreos and twinkle lights that flash and blink at different speeds? ONLY AMERICA, GUYS.
Thanks, Callie and Greg! You guys make our life.
+ I am really, really glad this guy is here.
+ I can’t believe we are almost halfway through December. My sickness totally threw me off and I am so far behind in everything. Excuse me while I go make some to-do lists.
Linking up with Travel Tuesday, Yalanda + Elle and the #SundayTraveler.
That care package is so sweet– you must have some really thoughtful friends! We got our first one from Alex’s mom this week with a bunch of wrapped presents. So now there are actually presents under our tree. What a luxury! 🙂
It was really interesting to me how you found CZ to be much cloudier than what you’re used to, whereas I feel like it is SO sunny and much less rain then what I’m used to! Perspectives… always fascinating. Hope you feel better soon & have a great last work week of the year!
Yes, they are the best! It was the best package we’ve gotten (although really I love them all, haha). I love that Alex’s mom sent wrapped gifts–my mom did, too! So cute :).
It’s funny that I find CZ cloudier, but both you and E (who grew up near Seattle) disagree with me. I’m just used to over 300 days a year of sun! Most of the time I don’t mind it but recently I’m really wishing for a beach vacation, haha. Too bad it’s only January ;).
Happy New Year!!!
A great care package! i hope you are feeling better too!!!!! x
Yes, so great! And this thing is still dragging on but I think I’m improving 🙂
I love that care package! Living away from home, there’s really nothing better than getting a care package in the mail.
I hope you’re feeling better soon an that you have a wonderful time traveling for the holidays!
Yes care packages are such a wonderful thing! They make my month, usually 🙂 and thank you! traveling was wondering but I’m STILL fighting this illness, ugh…here’s to a healthier 2015! Happy New Year to you, Carolann!
Oh no – being sick around the holidays is the worst! I hope you get well soon chica!! Once you’ve conquered your first doctor/hospital visit in your new home country, you can conquer just about anything 😉
Thanks Courtney! I was so bummed to be sick for so much of December, and I’m still fighting it off! Luckily it’s been coming and going so I was able to enjoy Paris fully :). I’m glad I’ve gotten the first visit overwith–I feel much more confident, haha! I realized the other day that I still don’t know what to call in case of an emergency…I need to figure that out, lol.
Hope you start feeling better. And I feel you on the no sunlight. We have maybe two to three hours of daylight and that has lately been filled with clouds. Care packages from home are the best!
I can imagine Iceland being so much darker than here! I’m not sure how well I would handle that–I’m struggling unexpectedly with it here!
So beautiful! <3
Thank you, Laisa 😉
Oh you poor thing! I hope you are feeling a lot, lot better! Being sick this time of year is the worst!
So lovely of your friends from home to send you a little care package! That would’ve made me really teary eyed too!
Hope you have a lovely week xo
Thanks Carly! I felt a little better over the holidays but now it’s come back…the joys of being a teacher, I guess 🙂 xo
Sorry to read you’re sick – absolute bummer around the holidays! And welcome to the Czech healthcare system. It may seem a touch rough around the edges, but the care here is really pretty incredible and, as you noted, the cost is so reasonable!
Love all your Christmasy notes, especially the part about the Nutcracker at Narodni Divadlo. I never got to see the whole thing because I took my cousin and her boyfriend and he wasn’t feeling well so we had to leave. Another time! Feel better and enjoy your upcoming travels 🙂
I think I have a general fear of doctors so that impacted my experience more than anything else–besides the wait time (which seems inevitable everywhere) my doctor was efficient and helped me feel better! Of course now I have a horrible cough so I may need to go back haha. I just still can’t believe how cheap it was, though–and if our insurance approves the meds, it will have cost us nothing except time!
I definitely recommend the Nutcracker here–but don’t be surprised if Scrooge shows up on stage, haha!
Hope you start to feel better asap! I though I was getting sick last week, but not yet! I usually get super sick here as Belgium tries to kill me every year… I do get to complain about never being sick back home in the UK so that makes me a little happier, a legitimate reason to moan!
I think the Czech Republic is trying to kill me, too! haha!
That latte is adorable! Get well soon! <3
Isn’t it cute? The bigger sizes have different themes, too, like elves and Santas 🙂
Sounds like a rough start to the holiday season. I hope you get lots of rest to gear up for all your travels!
Now that all the travels and holidays over I’m managing to get a LITTLE rest, haha 🙂 happy new year!
I loved the Costa cups when I was over in Europe last month! Didn’t know about the gingerbread cookie or I would have ordered one of those 😉
Yes the best bonus ever 😉
You poor thing! Sorry to hear you have been sick. Glad you managed to go see the nutcracker. I begged to go see it this year, but I guess we can’t afford it with one thing and another…booo!!!
Aww I know it really can be expensive! Well, not here…it was less than $3 for our seats. They were kind of terrible but the best seats were still not about $20, I don’t think. I hope you get to go next year!! It’s one of my favorite traditions.
Hope you’re feeling better now! And aww, Christmas care packages are the best 🙂
Thanks, Kelly! 🙂