Movie madness

Usually, the movie theater is my sanctuary. Usually, I go there and listen to the actors speaking English (without accents or mistakes) and I am transported to America. Usually, I smile over my nachos and escape for a few hours. Not today. Today, I went to see Majster šarkanov, known in the U.S. as The Kite Runner. I don't know if the entire movie was in Dari (with Czech subtitles) or if it just felt that way. :) It's a good thing I read the book. I was able to follow along without losing patience. I'm pretty sure it was a good movie.

Home away from home

I've made many happy memories at Simona's house. The first time I visited her, she had chips and salsa waiting to ease my Mexican cravings. At her Christmas party, I taught several Slovak women to play poker. We made gingerbread cookies in her kitchen, and I spent Christmas eve with her family. On several weekends, Simona has invited me over to watch classic Czech and Slovak movies and eat delicious meals. A few weeks ago, we sat at her table and decorated Easter eggs with melted wax crayons. She compared herself to Jackson Pollock. Today, we went on a hike in the woods near her neighborhood. In no time, the countless concrete buildings were out of sight and we were immersed in the trees and hills. It was another happy day with my good friend.

The Answer in Slovakia

A familiar man is gracing advertisements at bus stops across Bratislava. Allen Iverson, the cutest Denver Nugget, has gone international. Imagine my delight! I'm surprised at how many NBA fans there are in Slovakia. One of my students always asks, "Did you hear about the Nuggets game last night?" I usually can't say yes. I've been a lazy fan. Jesse has been keeping me posted on the playoff possibilities, and I am looking forward to returning to the Pepsi Center next season.

Hard to say Auf Wiedersehen

I traveled to Berlin, Germany, with Sarah and Jesse. There's a unique, sad energy about Berlin. The city has been shaped by destruction. The destruction of World War II changed the city's skyline and left the beautiful Kaiser Wilhelm Church in ruins. The destruction of the Berlin Wall reunited the city and gave them hope for a brighter future. It's a strange contrast. On Saturday, we went to the Sachsenhausen concentration camp outside of the city. It was a work camp for mostly political prisoners. All the Jewish inmates were sent to Auschwitz in 1942. An estimated 100,000 people were killed there, through executions and poor living conditions. After two days of trudging through memorials of Nazi and Communist brutality, we had to seek out a few upbeat Berlin sites. We gazed up at Siegessäule, the "angel on a stick." We gazed down at Berlin from 368 meters from the TV tower. We couldn't remove our gazes from the Berliner dom, an incredible Lutheran church. It was nice to end on a high note. We had to part ways at the Berlin bus station. Ugh! The goodbyes don't get easier. Sarah and Jesse have always taken really good care of me. They are protective and generous. I think it's the nicest kind of love.

My trip "home" should have been uneventful, but a minor mistake ended up costing me hours. The only reason I'm here now is because I pleaded with two Bohemian bus drivers with easy smiles and hidden halos.

Fun and games

Sarah and Jesse got a good taste of Banská Bystrica today. They visited my classes and introduced them to Reese's Peanut Butter Cups and Boggle. We toured the city and their Slovak experience was completed with thick hot chocolate and bryndzové halušky.

Déjà vu

I returned to Holland to meet Sarah and Jesse this weekend! We were enchanted by the streets of Amsterdam. We never tired of the reflections in the canals and the bike-choked paths. Jesse gave us a lengthy "tour" on our way to Anne Frank's House. We visited Vondel Park, Van Gogh's Museum, and the royal palace. The red light district provided plenty of shocks. We tasted Dutch pancakes with apples or chicken and cheese baked in. Delicious! On our last night, we traveled to the Magere Brug. The legend is that two sisters lived on opposite sides of the canal and built the bridge so they could visit each other often. I wish the Atlantic Ocean could be conquered with a bridge.