Postcard from Prague: Week One (for the third time)

Instant coffee tastes like dirt.

I was reminded of that Wednesday morning, sitting behind my desk and trying to wake up as the students were going about their morning routine. It's not the ideal way to begin a Wednesday, or any day, but sometimes desperate measures must be taken. It's hard to figure out a new morning process (new flat, new route, new school starting time) in general, but especially while jet-lagging. And seeing as I'll be State-side again in a week and a half (holy cow!) I'm not going to worry about settling into a morning routine until after that return trip.

10:30 Saturday morning marked one week of being back. Has it been a week already? Has it ONLY been one week? It's a strange but good transition back: familiarity with the school and daily operations, but a brand new class and teacher; familiarity with the city and general culture, but living in a very different part of Prague. For every one thing that's the same, I can give you another that's new all over again.

Even while adjusting to the new and readjusting to the old, being back in Prague feels like being home. This week, I've found myself smiling at the most unexciting things simply because I'm here again.

My first week back at school went well. I'm primarily working with the first grade class, but get to hop into the second grade room for 15-45 minutes on various days, depending on the teacher's lesson plans. Seven of those second graders were in my class last year, and it's a lot of fun to continue to work with them, as well as to get to know the other new students in their class.

My new first graders are a blast to work with. We have thirteen kids, and out of the nine or ten countries represented, none of them are Czech! (One is Czech-American, but their family is much more culturally American than Czech) There's a wide array of language ability. Most of them speak English fluently, but three are in the process of learning. While the language barrier is significant, it's amazing to see how quickly they pick it up, and equally amazing to see them figure out other ways to communicate when they exhaust their English. One little girl has taken to teaching me French words throughout the day (yes, she is from France.) It's a fun way to engage with her, made more entertaining by my severe lack of talent for a French accent. But she seems to very much enjoy sharing her language and teaching her teacher :)

I've moved to a great flat that's much closer to school, and much closer to the city center. I'm just three tram stops from school, three blocks from a good grocery store, and within about five minutes of a handful of school friends. I'm right above a metro station (well, two doors over, but close enough) and right across from a square that hosts a local farmers' market. I have an awesome roommate who's been in Prague for 10 years. She's been very intentional about making me feel at home in a new space. We're on the top floor of our building, which means a great rooftop patio and an incredible view from the living room, but also five flights of stairs multiple times a day since there is no elevator... at least I've got cardio built into my daily routine now!

In just ten days, I'll be flying back to Atlanta for a week-long visit. Most of that time will be dedicated to wedding festivities (first time being a groomswoman!) but I'm hoping to find a little time to climb, and of course will spend time with my family, especially my almost one-year-old nephew. After I come back at the end of October, I'll be here until next summer. That will be the longest stretch of time that I've been away from Atlanta, and the first Christmas I spend without my family. It will be different, and I know parts of it will be challenging, but I'm also excited about the opportunities it presents. Many of the American teachers won't be spending the holidays with their families, so we're already brainstorming trips and adventures for the break.

I don't really know how to end this, because it always feels as though there's more to say. But I suppose I'll save other stories for another time. It is only week one, after all.