spring, lately

happy may, all! this week was rife with student cancellations (more than half of my students cancelled, for real), odd occurrences, and happy times. i chose this week to participate in daily diaries because of all the weirdness and happiness that has surrounded this week.

on monday i had the strangest experience. i went to the university as usual in the afternoon, where i was about to have two lessons in the same building. unfortunately, there was a GIANT puddle of water on the floor in the lobby and the receptionist spoke very limited english, but enough to tell me that no students (and apparently, myself) were being let in. however, all of my students are university faculty members and i knew they were inside waiting for me, but there was nothing i could do. a lost in translation moment. what do you even do? frustrated, i went home and sent apologetic emails to the students. later, i was caught in an epic downpour without an umbrella or a hood on the way back from the supermarket. we waited for about twenty minutes under an arcade for it to let it (which it barely did) and then bolted home. had to use the blow-drier for the first time in almost a year.

the weather’s really been doing that “spring” thing lately where it looks like a beautiful sunny day and then BOOM, thunderstorm. later on we made a huge pros and cons list, as this month is high time for deciding where the heck we are going to go next (if anywhere). it’s confusing stuff. not sure this made it any easier, but it did make me realize how many pros there are to staying put.

on tuesday– DUN DUN DUNNNNNN– the immigration office beckoned. i was to go by myself, because no czech helpers were available to go with me that morning, and i needed a new stamp to remain legal. right now, the office is housed in a dilapidated looking several story grey communist apartment block building while the normal office is under construction. i don’t know how it manages to look even more frightening or worse than the old building, but it do, it sure do. i was so nervous that i was unable to even read to pass the time, preferring instead to stare at all of the posters on the wall or listen to eight different people converse loudly together in different languages while i sat in the corner like the little match girl and loud drilling droned one floor below. oh, immigration.

long story short, i waited an hour and twenty minutes until my number was called (in czech) and i actually managed to explain what i wanted with a few choice czech words. (all proceedings and documents must occur in the czech language– it’s not not frightening) twenty minutes after that, i walked out with a new visa stamp. it was an absolute miracle that i made it out without having to enlist any translation help. hallelujah! the streets seemed more beautiful, the sun shone brighter.

on wednesday, alex got an interview for a teaching job in another country. ahhhhhhhhhhh! i spent most of the day feeling nervous, excited, and unsure about said job and how it might be to move away. later, i whipped up a birthday cake from scratch and were picked up my a student’s mum to go out to a tiny village to celebrate witches night! we went with them last year: watching the younger guys of the village build the maika (may pole). lovely weather, lots of chatting, sausage roasting on the bonfire, and wine drinking for us. it was a special time to reflect on our lives in budejica and how wonderful it was to be invited back to this special event for a second year.

thursday was may first, labor day, which was a glorious (mostly) day off for all of us. first, i awoke early and i rode my bike along the malše river to give a short kids lesson. there’s nothing like riding my bike on a sunny spring morning along the river to give me major “omg, i live in europe” feelings– so wonderful. after returning, we buggered off to česky krumlov with a friend for the afternoon to wander the streets, pop inside some boutiques, and have a chai latte on a sunny cafe terrace. we were planning to have a picnic lunch, however the beautiful blue skies turned into rain clouds and we all huddled under a gazebo a the park, the only available shelter, and ate our sandwiches. not exactly the spring picnic i had imagined, and how silly because the rest of the day it was beautiful. go figure! krumlov is so lush and green in the spring.

today, friday, was our engagement photo shoot, which was to take place at 7:00am. turns out, one hour of preparation was not enough, but it was just enough to look decent, eat some muesli and down a mimosa (yep, 6:30am mimosas, people) before heading out. can’t wait to see the results! for this weekend, my M.O. is to relax BIG TIME: start a new book, take leisurely strolls & cafe visits. next weekend (birthday weekend!) is a biggie, so it’s time to take it easy. 

 …check out this giveaway i’m a part of to win a $40 giftcard to amazon + other goodies! perfect to kick off the summer reading collection, no? happy weekend, all! it’s gonna be may.