Amy and the Great World

Archives for May 2015

Czech Republic Wedding

Finally! A Wedding Date + What Next

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You may have noticed things have been quiet around here. Part of that is because things are changing quickly and as with all changes, that means my moods are all over the place, and part of that is just the craziness of ending a school year!

First things first.

We are getting married…this October!

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Yes, SOON. I am so excited but sometimes I feel like crying that it’s so soon, mostly at the amount of things to do.

This wedding date may also give you a clue about our future. Since we are not getting married in Prague–but in E’s parents’ yard–that means we will NOT be staying for another year in Prague.

Cue heartbreak. I absolutely love this city and there was a huge part of me that didn’t want to leave. The main reason is, unfortunately, financial, directly related to our visas. It isn’t hard to survive here, but our unique circumstances that hardly ever happen to ANYONE had us not making enough money to apply for a long-term visa. It’s strange, because we are doing fine financially–but late paychecks that unfortunately have just reached us had us unable to apply at the right time. It’s complicated, but if you want a longer explanation, shoot me an email :). I’ve held off so long from talking about this, even though we’ve known for a while, because I kept hoping something might change.

But, we are moving on–for now. Prague is not going anywhere, and it will always be on my radar. Also, I’ve absolutely loved teaching, and I don’t plan on stopping that.

So, you might ask–where are we going next??

The answer is…NOWHERE.

And…EVERYWHERE.

We are going to be NOMADS, at least until the beginning of 2016. We’ll be traveling around Europe after our lease is up in July (and our visas end), then back to the States for our wedding and to hop around visiting family and friends. Then, we’ll take an extended honeymoon (TBD) and come back home for the holidays.

We’ll reassess at the new year, and see if we are ready to try someplace new, or ready to stay on the road. I have a feeling I will miss teaching in person–I’ll be teaching online through the fall–so we may decide to move back to Prague or move somewhere else to teach in 2016.

Right now, after our wedding, the future is really, really open.

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I’m really terrified and really excited. This is has been a dream of ours and I’m still not sure if we can do this or not, but suddenly the opportunity just fell into our laps. With not being able to stay in Prague, and E finding success working online, and the many online teaching options, it’s almost…serendiptious.

I hope you will still follow along, wherever I go next! Amy and the Great World will definitely still be around. It is the Great World after all, and I still have so much to explore.

For now, I am soaking up our last few months in Prague and the Czech Republic, and have many many more European travels to catch you up on. I am working hard on being present in every moment here.

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Thank you so much for your support and for reading as I navigated choosing to come to Prague, adjusting to Prague, enjoying Prague, and ultimately choosing not to stay in Prague. This had been one of the best years of my life, and this blog and the blogging community has been a huge part of that!

Egypt

Around the World with…Ashley!

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around world ashleyHi everyone, my name is Ashley!  I am so excited to be here, thank you so much for the privilege Amy!  I call Southern California home, but love exploring the world as often as possible.  I enjoy blogging about my travels with my husband and family, random humor, graphic design, and general nerd-ery.  (Oh and not taking myself or life too seriously!)

You can follow along with me on Bloglovin’, Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.

Today I take you to Egypt, a country I desperately wanted to visit since I was a little girl.  While in Egypt a profoundness swept slowly over me and settled down in my soul.  Driving through streets I saw camels walking next to cars, history amidst a modern urban scene, pyramids behind tall buildings, and all of this meshed into one moving body of old and new, rich and poor.

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We were told there was a trash strike taking place in the city.  Whether or not there was an actual strike is debatable.  Some people told us it was a ruse to cover up the overflow, but either way, the city seemed very smoky as copious amounts of trash were burned.  Combined with a layer of car pollution, there was a haze hovering over the city and its seemingly neutral, often unfinished, sand colored buildings dotting the landscape.

When you peel back the haze, when you enter the sand colored buildings, something different emerges.  We learned that Egyptians leave the outside and tops of buildings unfinished, lavishly decorating the inside and adding floors as children get married.  How presumptuous of us to assume these buildings were unfinished.  These buildings were just what the people living there intended them to be!  It makes sense in a harsh desert climate to not worry too much about how the external appears, focusing more on the internal.  How profound when you consider the philosophy and deeper meaning that leads to.

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There was a moment when our bus stopped and I looked out my window.  I saw a girl, about my age, with only her face uncovered.  We met eyes for a moment and she smiled shyly at me.  I instantly felt all the cultural distance evaporate, because it didn’t matter in that second.  It warmed my soul and the momentary connection has stuck with me since.

Our most astonishing discovery in the city of Cairo would have to be the four square-mile stretch of land where hundreds of thousands of locals, and some of the city’s poorest residents, actually live on top of a 1,300 year old cemetery.  They have built an extensive network of homes, schools, and shops within the cemetery.  Families will often lease plots above graves and the area has expanded into an extensive network.  Hundreds of thousands of people live there in what is called The City of the Dead.

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Since Egypt can be an overwhelming country to take in, I thought I would share some things I wish I had known before visiting.

Safety Disclaimer

First off, safety.  I want to say that I cannot vouch for your personal safety in Egypt.  We did travel there before many of the major riots/political unrest, so I cannot attest to the current state of affairs.  It is always best to consider what is right for you and of course check your country’s current travel warnings. That being said, if you do decide to go, having a guide, or someone familiar with the county can be a lifesaver, both in your enjoyment/learning experience during your trip, and in the event of the necessity to evacuate due to an emergency.  I really trusted our guide, and he knew the right cultural protocol and way to navigate certain situations with tact.

Money

We exchanged cash into Egyptian pounds, only to find vendors asking us for the US dollar.  If I did it over, I would only bring cash in US currency and I would pack LOTS of change.  You tip for the bathroom, toilet paper, and sometimes even to get a paper towel after.  People are selling things everywhere.  Anyone who comes up to you is looking for money in some way or another.  People are friendly, but more aggressive than almost anywhere else I have traveled.  You’ll want to be prepared and have ample change ready to make your travels easier.

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Dress

Egypt has a conservative dress code, especially for women, so it is respectful to cover yourself up as much as possible- at least covering your shoulders and knees.  There is a lot of sunlight coming down on you, so it is best to wear long, loose layers to stay cool and protect yourself from heat related illness or sunburn.  That being said, pack or buy bottled water and stay hydrated, especially if you’re not familiar with a desert environment!

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Souvenirs/Bargaining

Bargaining is accepted and encourages!  Prices start inflated, as negotiation is expected.  Relax and have a sense of humor with bargaining.  Walking away will always get you a better deal, but I also recommend paying what you feel it is worth in the end, and not focusing or stressing yourself out too much on how much others paid or you could have saved.  As a side note, if you want an authentic painted papyrus, be sure to go to a government approved seller, so you know you are getting the real deal.  I personally think that is the best thing you can bring home!

Driving

I have been to my fair share of countries with notoriously crazy driving to outsiders.  I’ve watched as my driver in Rome got into an altercation with a moped, I’ve been in the back seat of a taxi in Tijuana, and of course I’ve driven the Southern California freeways for 15 years.  None of these compares in the slightest to the driving in Egypt.  Bottom line… do not drive yourself around the city.  I recommend organizing a small tour group or private driver BEFORE arriving, but if you decide to drive on your own, I warned you here first.

Food

The food in Egypt definitely has a Mediterranean influence, with its own twists and seasonings.  We enjoyed thick pita bread, skewered meats, falafel, vegetables, and ful medames (mashed fava beans cooked with oil, parsley, garlic, lemon juice, and salt.)  We mostly ate family or buffet style (which I recommend so you can try new things!), but of course you can find lots of variation and numerous other styles and foods.  We encountered many vegetable based dishes with unique flavorings and mixings, often in the form of mashes or pastes to be served atop bread or pita.  For dessert, I tried basbousa, which is a sweet semolina cake soaked in syrup.  I am by no means an Egyptian food expert, and I don’t remember everything we tried, but hopefully this gives you a general idea of what to expect.

Relax, and Enjoy

Take it all in.  It really is a wonderful place to visit and the people are warm and friendly. Take time to experience that and let it all soak in.

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Definite DOs

Pyramids at Giza

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See the Sphinx

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The Citadel of Salah Al-Din

Cruise on the Nile

Visit Memphis

The Necropolis of Saqqara

The Egyptian Museum

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Maybe consider:

The Laser Light Pyramid Show (so cheesy, but can be fun!)

Riding a Camel (it is not for everyone- also negotiate the price BEFORE you get on)

Admittedly, I was a bit out of my comfort zone in Egypt, but in a way that travel should put you out.  Although sometimes travel is for relaxation and familiarity, the best moments in travel are often the ones that make you uncomfortable and ask you to dig deeper and remove yourself from your comfort zone.

As we drove along at sunset one night, kids were playing in the strips of grass, camels lounging, groups of girls and boys, moms and dads, teenagers, all just hanging out together as the weather cooled down.  There was something very tranquil in it all, juxtaposed against the chaos of the city.

Each person we met in Egypt, tour guide included, was extremely warm of heart and kind in spirit.  Such a beautiful country, with even more beautiful people.  More than the artifacts and amazing history we experienced, I will always remember that about Egypt.

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Happy and safe travels to you all!

Czech Republic

Tales from the ESL Classroom

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Teaching children and adults alike how to speak, read and write English can be difficult, stressful, exhausting, FUN and hilarious. I’ve been jotting down some of my students’ best quotes since I started teaching in September…all anonymous, of course!

 

— While hearing me discuss a parent who was about to have a baby, one of my six-year-olds asked, “Miss Amy? Is that baby really going to pop out of that lady? Like popcorn? Like KABOOM?” (mimes explosion and blood splatters). All prompted by me saying “she’s about to pop!”

— Student: “Miss Amy? Is it me, or are we holding hands?”   Me: “Um yes you two are holding hands, it’s not in your head?”  Student: “What does it mean when I said that, though?”

— Kindergarten has been going for about 20 minutes when one little boy suddenly gasps and says “OH NO!” When I go over to investigate, he pulls his “new pet” out of his pocket–a very dead grasshopper. Class was disrupted for a solid fifteen minutes while we safely put the grasshopper out the window for him to “pick up later.”

— While playing a game that involves naming different animals, all of the children are quiet for a moment when I show them a picture of a rooster. One girl, suddenly, gives me a big beaming smile and says “It’s a big, beautiful cock!” A perfectly acceptable answer yet somewhat hilarious to an American English speaker.

—“Hello, Miss Cookie!” Most of the preschoolers seem to confuse me with our class puppet, Cookie the Cat.

—“Today, pork!” Said an adult student when asked how he was doing that day.

— Student: “I cried so much because I lost my hamster.”   Me: “Oh no! She’s gone?!”   Student: “Huh? No, like, she wasn’t there at camp.”   Me: “Oh you missed your hamster!”   Student:”That’s what I said.”

— I learned early on while teaching “kid-writing” (simply letting the children write out the sounds without forcing the spelling) has it’s pitfalls when I asked the children to write “come here” in kid-writing. A little girl, in her pink Frozen shirt complete with a ruffled skirt, held up her whiteboard triumphantly with…well, you can guess what she wrote.

— While practicing conditionals, one student wrote “If I could change one thing about my life, I would change this situation.” Immediately concerned the student meant our class, I asked more questions, until finally the student commented, “I just have not one thing I would change about my life!”

— “You’ve been to Los Angeles? Have you met Katy Perry?” asks every Czech teenager ever.

— “I know the president of America! It’s Bombom Obombom!” Not bad for a Czech five-year-old.

— “Sweden is expensive to go to yes. But some things are cheaper in Sweden. Sea monsters are cheaper in Sweden.” (Meaning, seafood).

— (overheard exchange between several kindergarteners): Student A: “Why did you not lie?”   Student D:”Because when you lie you die.” (Can you tell we’re learning about rhyming?)

— “When I was a child, I thought I wanted to be a serial killer. They get so famous.” –one of my adult students who could kill me with his pinky.

— “Miss Amy! He’s in the toilet! He’s in the toilet!” Meaning, he was taking too long in the stall.

— “You is TOO pig, D.” One girl’s brilliant comeback to her nemesis–said while pointing at a picture of a pig.

— Me: “Can you use word ‘do’ in a sentence?”   Student: “I do Miss Amy!”   Me: “Good God no, don’t say that.”

— When shown a picture of an ax and asked “What is this?,” the responses are (from four different students): “Hammer!” “Fire!” “Ranch!” and the best, “Death!”

— When one child went to her grandfather’s funeral, one response from a classmate was: “You got to see a body dead? THAT IS MY DREAM WISH!”

— “I splashed the toilet Miss Amy! I promise.” After a long discussion, the translation for splash turned out to be flush. (Also, generally I do not ask if they flush the toilet, so I’m not sure why in this incident I needed reassurance).

Do you have any experience with language barriers? Any funny stories to share? 

Linking up with Travel Tuesday! 

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