Lately, Fall

life here in czech republic is picking up again! alex and i’ve both started back up with our lessons for the new school year. i chose to stick with my job at the language school that i’ve been with since february instead of teaching only children with alex. i loved being around the kids during summer camp and i do enjoy having young students, but i thought that personally, i have a lot i can offer adults as well. so, i will continue to teach a variety of ages, 7 through 60+.

what i like about this job is that i can accept or decline new students as i feel like it, but right now i’m in accept, accept, accept! mode. naturally.

the weather is turning, and i’m pretty sure that it’s officially fall here now. (or autumn, as i say to my students as to not confuse them!) fall weather here seems unpredictable, making layers a complete necessity, and the leaves in some areas are just beginning to turn. i’m getting into fall-mode by cooking with squash! the hokkaido variety is quite prevalent (errm.. one of the two kinds available here) which is fine for beginners to squash because of it’s mild, nutty delicious flavor. i just cooked half of one in a stew with coconut milk, curry, tofu, and herbs over jasmine rice. great decision. still on the look-out for canned pumpkin, with which to make pumpkin spice lattes from scratch. i’ve actually made them in past years this method (real pumpkin!!!) and it was just as good as the starbucks variety. although i am pining over starbucks’ website currently: pumpkin spice via? anniversary blend? want.

currently on a crazy breaking bad kick at the end of season 2 and won’t stop until it’s over! it is without a doubt one of the most intense TV shows i’ve ever seen, the kind that invades your dreams and thoughts. can’t believe the only reason i didn’t start watching earlier because i’m not a fan of shows being titled “verb-ing noun”. judging amy. chasing hope. etc. silly, right?

things seem a little different here now. i feel like we know more people here and are much more familiar with the region and events going on in town. there is now a second native speaker in CB from montreal, so we are not the only foreigners anymore! hooray! also, lately much more comfortable with the language and getting by. no longer too intimidated to enter tiny shops and not as afraid to have an awkward language barrier conversation. still annoyed by the stares and grimaces instead of smiles while walking the streets, but am not going to get down about it! i will keep on smiling! someone, somewhere will appreciate it.

have been thinking about how it will be to return to the USA when the time is right and how un-enthused about the idea i am. i like aspects of coming back but it’s time that i work in a job about something i care about. and honestly, i’m not sure how many opportunities like this exist in seattle. it’s so exhausting to live in an ultra-competitive city where everyone is as qualified, if not more, than you. not to say i wouldn’t try again, but, woof.

last weekend we celebrated the end of summer weather with a visit to hluboka zoo! a small zoo about 30 minutes north, accessible from the city bus line. and for a small zoo, it completely surpassed my expectations! there were monkeys just hanging out, unhindered by a cage. in the aviary, there was a tiiiiiiny little guy just lounging on a branch above alex’s head, peering at his every move.

followed by… a visit to the andy warhol exhibit at the ales jihoceska gallery near the castle. a huge andy warhol exhibit in this tiny czech town seemed like a huge coup for the region and we had to investigate before it ends later this month. andy warhol (originally named Andrej Warhola Jr.)’s parents were from czechoslovakia, although he was born in pittsburgh. this exhibit gave a great scope into his many different kinds of work– much more than just campbell soup cans or madonna portraits! i was quite impressed at what a versatile artist he actually was and definitely gained a new respect for him.

kafka– part of the “12 famous jews” series. who knew?