Hellos and goodbyes

The highlight of Mom and Dad's trip was meeting their Slovak pen pals for dinner at a Koliba. It's a traditional Slovak cottage. After exchanging emails for several weeks, they were eager to meet. Dad's partner Zdena arranged the festivities. Mom and Dad were treated to shots of slivovica, traditional foods, and live music. All of this lead to uncontrollable laughter and unforgettable memories.

Yesterday, we went to Bratislava. Matt arrived at noon! I still can't believe he's here. I'm a happy girl. After exploring Bratislava, the four of us went to a ballet. It was almost like Cinderella, except the ashy boy was rescued by a princess. Obviously, I like this twist.

Today, we had all of our baggage and no energy, so we went restaurant hopping! We went to three separate restaurants for hot chocolate and apple strudel, pizza and beer, and chocolate cake and tea. I know it's silly, but it was my favorite. I loved talking and laughing with my favorite people.

It was expectedly difficult to watch Mom and Dad grow smaller as our train left today. I'll miss them. I'll always remember Dad's energy. He wanted to be everywhere. Mom and I tried to keep up, and when we couldn't, we looked at each other and smiled. It was a very cold Christmas, but the memories will always make me feel warm.

Hungary for Christmas

It was a very merry Christmas in Budapest! My parents were my presents. We checked into our hotel and headed to the Christmas market. We sampled the mulled wine.

On Wednesday, we took a bus tour of the city. Our guide was stellar. We loved St. Stephan's church and the Fisherman's Bastion. We also took a tour of the Duhány Street Synagogue, the second biggest synagogue in the world. It holds 3,500 people. There was a mass grave with victims of the Holocaust and a few memorials nearby.

Today, we took on Banská Bystrica. We went to mass at the Virgin Mary Church. It was built around 1255. Then, we went to the village of Hronsek. There is a beautiful wooden church. It was built in 1725 without any metal. No nails! It's has amphitheater-style seating for 1,100 people. The inside was even more incredible than the outside. We're planning to have more fun tomorrow.

What the carp?!?

It's beginning to smell a lot like Christmas! There's a giant tank outside of Tesco. It holds a huge amount of live carp. The men scoop them out, put them in plastic bags, weigh them, and announce the price. People take them home and keep the live fish in their bathtubs until they are killed for Christmas Eve dinner. Most families have more than one fish. The children play with them, and they are removed when someone needs to shower. There are a lot of interesting Slovak Christmas traditions, but this one fascinates me the most.

Painting the town

Field trip to Vienna!!! I still can't believe that I can spend an afternoon in another country. I went with students who are studying German and English at my school to the 'Picasso to Monet' exhibition at the Albertina Museum. I especially enjoyed Woman with Blue Eyes by Dongen. Picasso's Woman in a Green Hat and Monet's Waterlilies weren't bad either! I sat in front of Waterlilies for quite a while with four of my Slovak students, and I was happy. What an experience!

We walked around Vienna and visited St. Stephen's cathedral. It's always been my favorite European church. The inside reminds me of a cave. It's dripping with beauty. We also went to a cafe, and my students insisted that I try sachertorte. It's Vienna's famous chocolate cake. I didn't argue.

Vienna is covered in Christmas. Every street is festive. The Christmas markets are filled with pastries, hot Christmas punch, ornaments, and happy voices. I was with my elementary-level students. They can barely speak English, but they did everything to make sure I had a good Austrian experience.

The place for lace

I have a new appreciation for Špania Dolina. I returned today with Simona for a Christmas program. The people of the town showed us how they make traditional Slovak crafts. We saw women making oblatky (thin wafers), Christmas ornaments, gingerbread cookies, scarfs, and lace. Simona and I even got to decorate cookies and make ornaments. Špania Dolina is known for lace-making. It was incredible to watch the pins and bobbins of thread become flowers. A few weeks ago, I walked through the same streets and down the same mountain, but friends make everything sunnier.

Mikulaš is coming to town

Last night, children throughout Slovakia shined their boots and put them near the windows. If they were good, Mikulaš filled their shoes with candy and fruit. Tonight, Mikulaš made an appearance in the square. He was accompanied, as usual, by an angel and a devil. The devil, called čert, threatens children to encourage good behavior. One of my students was disappointed because Mikulaš wore a Santa Claus suit. The traditional Mikulaš wears primarily white and carries a staff. Many people are adopting Santa Claus. It's unfortunate. I enjoyed watching the spectators more than the show. It was a child's paradise. Candy, balloons, and flashing devil horns were everywhere. When I walked around town today, I could tell everyone was on a sugar-high. They smiled from the inside out.

The town square is decked out. There is a large Christmas tree, and the fountain has been converted into a nativity scene. Greenery and lights frame the recently added Christmas markets. They sell hot wine, punch, and sausages. It smells incredible. The clock tower plays Christmas tunes. It's magical.

You've Got Mail

Ten of my beginning students have been corresponding through email with my family and friends. Pen pals! I love being in the middle of their conversations. I have become an expert on important vocabulary like "hug" and "slumber parties." I helped Ľubo with the crucial distinction between "beer" and "bear." Zdenka prints all of Dad's emails and marks all over them. She learns and laughs easily. I'm impressed that Richard seems to understand Jesse's wit. Ivana reminds me of Jill. She eats constantly but remains tiny, and she's got just the right amount of attitude. They all love sending and receiving photos. I look forward to going to the computer lab every Monday. This has definitely been one of my favorite experiments.

Last week, Zdenka brought me a bag of marshmallows. I made Rice Krispie treats! The marshmallows- and the resulting rice squares- were pink and fruit-flavored. I brought them to class today, and they seemed to enjoy them. Ivana was pretty nervous when she took her first bite. It was fun to watch their faces.