Prague Vacation

Christmas in Budapest

Christmas in Budapest was nice. It seems it is not traditional, in this part of the world (I'm writing this from Budapest), to have a Christmas Eve service but a Christmas morning service.  We enjoyed broccoli cheese soup and Its a Wonderful Life on Christmas Eve and headed to the Hungarian/English service on Christmas morning. 

We also enjoyed a post-service coffee at the beautifully restored New York Kavehaz.

It was built at the end of the 19th century and was frequented by the elite of Hungary's literary world. One anecdote tells of how the famous writer Ferenc Molnár, on the day the café opened, threw the keys into the Danube so that it would never close.

Traveling in Style

On Boxing Day, December 26th, we boarded a bus to Prague (pronounced Praha in Hungarian and Czech), Czech Republic. 

On the way, our bus had personal screens for movies and television and served free hot drinks. 

Arrival

It took 7 1/2 hours, with one break and 3 other stops, to get from Budapest to Prague.  After arrival, we checked out the local cuisine. Prague goulash with homemade dumplings is pictured below. 

It was quite a bit different than the Hungarian version, pictured here:

A Tour in Photos

Christmas markets were still in full swing.  

It was very cold ( around 30 degrees Fahrenheit most of the time). We bundled up and began our 46 hour Prague tour.  We spent a lot of time outdoors, so we constantly consumed hot beverages.

Below is the famous Charles bridge, a walking bridge.

The tradition of padlocks, with the initials of couples carved into them, is here as well.

Chimney cakes, also, are in Prague. I ate 2. I also sampled sausages and mulled wine. Sarah said the homemade potato chips were amazing. And she liked the schnitzel (breaded meat cutlets).

One of our many hot beverages.

We also made our way up to the castle district.

Climbing around 380 steps to the top of one of the castle towers, was tough.

But, we were rewarded with some breathtaking views.

Observation and Such

- Rye bread is the staple. When you order a sausage or soup you get rye bread. 

- Cobble stones are everywhere. Even new side walks are cobblestone. Because of this I didn't see very many heeled boots.

- Lots. Of. Tourists. There are more tourists in Prague than Budapest. 

- Even though it was bitter cold we all ate outside at the markets.

- The architecture and statues seemed sort of dark and mysterious.

- It seems the whole world does big, sparkly shopping malls now. Starbucks, H&M and Costa Coffee have overtaken the world.

- Czechs love pizza and Italian food.

- We went to a English speaking church in Prague. It was special to worship, next to the castle, with people from all over the world. 

Final Thoughts

I have wanted to go to Prague for a long time, so I am really thankful I was able to experience it. I understand why everyone loves it.  It's delightful!

And then it feels like coming home, again, when arriving back in Budapest.

Winter Break

CHRISTMAS PARTY

Treats.

I asked for treats for our Christmas party and wow. I got to try some fancy snacks. At least 12 of my students brought treats. Yeah. I also got a couple special gifts. Need any dates? I got a very large box full.

Made my day.

Even with all their treats the kids were still delighted they got to decorate the sugar cookies I made. They had their choice of frosting and sprinkles.  

NICE SMOOTH TRAVEL

On a jet plane.

I had to get up just a bit earlier than a normal school day, at 2 am, to start my winter holiday.

A tasty surprise. 

Turkish cheese pastry is the same as Burek (it is Burek) my favorite Albanian and Macedonian food, which btw is very similar to my favorite Bulgarian food, Banitsa. Almond cake is also amazing. Both were served on my flight to Istanbul. Food wise, I could live in Turkey. 

Burek

I had no idea.

When I booked my tickets to Budapest, I purchased two tickets. I got one to Istanbul and one from there to Budapest. Who would have thought two tickets from the same airline would leave from different airports.  I flew into Asia Istanbul then, after making my own way across the city(including buying a visa), out of Europe Istanbul. And why there is no direct shuttle from one airport to the other is beyond me.  I was going to take a public shuttle to the city center and then transfer to another going to the other airport, but last second I booked a private shuttle from one airport to the other. Like literally last second. I booked it as I was boarding my flight from kuwait to Istanbul. 75 bucks was worth the peace of mind, this time. And good thing I made that desicion because I don't think I would have had enough time the other way.

VACATION

Made it.

Now I'm in Budapest. Felt like coming home. I love this city.

View from the top of St. Stephen'sChurch

Gulyas (Hungarian goulash)

I ❤️ Budapest.

My 2 Cents

My 2 Cents

It's the weekend. I finished my two graduate classes on Wednesday so the weekend now sparks a new emotional response than it has so far this school year. Want a piece of advice? Don't take 2 grad classes your first year teaching. Especially not if you are doing it in a foreign country. Just my 2 cents.

Boring

Internet readers don't read. It's true. I've read several articles on this in one of my most recent grad class- Technology for Teachers. They look at pictures and scan headlines.  I knew it was true after the first article, because I don't really read much on the Internet either.

This isn't really a scannable (and thus it's probably boring) post.

Exotic

She told me it was so she could do research on her animal project.  

One of the girls in my class... 

We are writing informational books about a animal. 

Her's is a lion.

Her uncle got a lion cub from Africa. Not sure how they got it in the country but apparently they did, they do, as it is popular for people to buy and trade exotic pets in the Middle East. You can read more about that if you follow one of the links below. In this case though, after a couple days, "they" came and took it to the zoo.

http://news.kuwaittimes.net/kuwait-develops-taste-wild-exotic-animals-buying-breeding-illegal-wildlife-rise/

http://edition.cnn.com/2012/04/04/world/meast/endangered-animal-pets/

Original 

Noora wrote an observation in her journal: 

Seeds can be all shapes and sizes? 

Do you agree with Noora's observation? Why or why not?

Above was the part of the writing prompt I asked my Third graders to respond to after our recent Science lab. In the lab we looked at kiwi, apple, orange and plum seeds.

Most original answer: I disagree, because I've never seen a seed as big as a whale. 

Well, I did ask if they came in all shapes and sizes.  I really must word my prompts more carefully. 

Jumping for Joy

I requested and was given some Starboard training this week. I've had an interactive white board all year but it's only been a not so glorified (well sort of glorified since it does have sound) projector. But now, *insert a mental jumping picture of me here* I can touch my whiteboard to switch between web pages and write on my screen(with my finger). Pathetically, I've been writing on and holding up a mini white board to teach math. Turns out once it was calibrated it was actually ready to go, but I learned some neat tricks, too. Now to search for some Starboard lessons.

Picture this

Encouragement
The day had a tremulous start. Tremulous as in a magnitude 6 earthquake.

On that shaky morning, though I didn't have time to open it until later, I got a super sweet note for one of my students.  It is just overwhelming, in the best way, how on really, really hard days some sort of encouragement like this comes my way. 

Missing that feel

Tree is up, with lights, in the classroom. It was unexpected how happy it made me. Can it really be the 12th of December? 

I wrote in last week's post about how it is surprisingly Christmasy in Kuwait. That is because I thought it might be this taboo, youbetternotsaytheword thing, which it isn't. 

I don't like consumer Santa-mas but I like the peace, joy and giving of Christmas. I don't miss the X number of shopping days left, but I love the O Come, O Come Emmanuel and O Come all ye Faithful. The tree does help some. I just made some bread dough ornament to cover its nakedness. The day's soundtrack has been classic Christmas tunes. I even have 3 holiday parties lined up. Maybe I'll get the that feel yet.

Camels and Things I've Observed

Classroom Life 

A Roller Coaster 

One day last week I wrote, "I feel like I may be getting into my groove a bit. I find myself joking around with the class more. It's fun."

But then, last Thursday (our last day of the week) I mourned my lack of patience and was annoyed by my abundance of frustration.

It is definitely a roller coaster ride.  The class has, in general, improved at classroom procedures and matured. And, overall, it's easier.

My days are still long and exhausting.

Okay, enough.

Random Things I've Observed in Kuwait

Pets

Dogs are rare in Muslim countries (Google that if you want details) and I can't say I've missed them. I am not a big pet person, in general, but I've had bad luck with dogs in the past. (They have big, scary teeth.) Anyway, they are not very common here so when I do see a dog, it's a bit shocking. I ran into one on the corniche this week. It was on a leash, but...I haven't missed them at all.

On the other hand, stray cats are everywhere. 

Vices

There is no alcohol allowed in Kuwait. You knew that, right. Smoking, on the other hand, is allowed in most places. Shisha, tobacco smoked in a hookah with other favors, is quite common also. Seems odd to me but who am I to compare and contrast vices.

Dress

Many women here do where the black abayas( the black robe like covering).  Some are boxy shaped and plain, but some have lace and glitter. I saw a sporty abaya recently. It was made of breathable wind suit material and it was adorned with Nike type stripes.  Many women, though, wear jeans, tunics and simple head scarves.  

I am planning to get a head scarf soon. Just to have. If I get one I'll give you a tutorial of how to wear it.  I didn't know this before but a skull cap is worn underneath.  I'll still will look foreign though. I'd have to lay on the eyes liner and get some fake lashes (which will not happen. ever.) to pass, even at a quick glance, as Arab.  

Another First and Second

Riding a Camel

My death grip.  This was ride two, I knew what was coming.

You must hold on!

  

Someone's riding shoes.

Camel Races

No one actually rides them when they race. Here they are bringing them out.

A 14 second video of racing camels!