Friday night was the school's ples which is a graduation ball. It is a cross between prom and graduation, sort of. I had such a good time. It is a ball to honor the graduating class. They don't have a graduation ceremony like we do at the end of the school year. It is a formal affair, like prom.....fancy dresses, getting your hair done, etc. It started around 8 and ended at 2:30. The maturants (seniors) did a pre-dance to songs from the "Pulp Fiction" soundtrack. It was well choreographed. Then the maturants are presented with sashes and their class rings. After that was the champange toast from the teachers. There was a receiving line and the teachers went through to toast our students. It is a little odd to drink with your students, it's so taboo in the states. The next part was one that I was quite apprehensive about, the student-teacher dance. First of all it was a waltz, which I haven't danced in a very long time. Secondly, I was afraid of which student would ask me to dance. One of the maturants has a huge crush on me and I thought it would be awkward if he asked me to dance. And sure enough, he did. But it was funny. He didn't know how to waltz either. He asked me, "How do we start?" I told him that was a bad sign. So we stumbled through the dance and it was hilarious instead of weird. So I began to relax a little after that. The rest of the night there was dancing and drinking and raffles. It was so weird to be around my students who were drunk and it was completely acceptable. It's part of the culture. I won a nice dinner for two with a bottle of champagne at a hotel in Cheb. My students where asking me if I would take one of them. Right! The official festivities end with the "Midnight Surprise" which usually involves boys in drag. Don't ask me why. The whole class did the can-can. It was pretty amusing. It was nice to see my students and co-workers all dressed up and looking nice. It was really quite the event. I hope y'all had a good weekend, too!

Hey y'all!

Well it cool and rainy again. But that's ok because I know Spring is out there somewhere. Just wanted to give y'all some good news. My teammate Lena and I are both coming back to teach in the Czech Republic next year. The best thing is that we have already figured out how to live together and we actually have a clue of what it is like to live here. So next year should be easier in some ways. I am excited that Lena is coming back, it saves me the worry of finding a new teammate! And for those of you who are curious, I'll be home the beginning of July. If for some reason you need more details, email me and I'll give you the scoop!! Gotta run and teach!
Jessica

Happy St. Patrick's Day!!
Well, we are back at school and Spring is in the air! The high for today is 62 and I am thrilled. I was getting tired of the cold and snow. The sun is out, the sky is blue and the birds are singing. It's wonderful.

I had a great time over Spring Break. Ducki (aka Laura Homan) flew into Prague. We stayed there a couple of days then moved on to Budapest, Hungary. What a beautiful place. I had the best Italian meal I've had since moving here. We went to the thermal baths on Tuesday with a bunch of ESI teachers who live in Budapest. It was so relaxing. I even enjoyed the peppermint sauna and I don't like saunas very much. There are two outdoor baths which were so warm and cozy. One has a strong current in the middle that carries you around the pool. All the baths were mineral water which is supposed to be good for what ails ya. It was nice visiting with some of the other ESI teachers, too.

Then we headed to Vienna, Austria. We were there about eight hours. It is a gorgeous place. We took a tram around the city to see the sites. Beautiful buildings and gardens were everywhere. We had lunch at this place that claimed it made "the most famous schnitzel in Vienna." Ducki and I split one because they were bigger than the plates they were served on. Then we went to St. Stephen's Cathedral. I love old churches. It was beautiful. We had sacher torte and cafe Vienna at the Sacher Hotel Cafe, where we felt completely underdressed. We walked around and shopped. But my favorite thing was eating hot wings at TGIFriday's! I have been craving them for a long time. The waitress was so sweet. She told me they were really spicy and that most of the customers complained. I told her not to worry, I was from Texas and I wanted spicy hot wings. Then we went back to St. Stephen's and listened to the choir rehearse. It was quite uplifting. We went to the train station and got on an overnight train to Cheb. We had a whole sleeper compartment to ourselves.

We relaxed a bit in Cheb and popped over to Nurnberg one afternoon. The weather was so nice that day. We ate at Burger King. I know it isn't very creative, but I have to get some American food sometimes. Ducki flew home Monday, the 15th. It was great to be able to show someone from home where I live and give them a feel for what I do here. Well I gotta go. Hope you are wearing green so you don't get pinched!

Sorry I didn't write last week. It's been busy and I've been crazy. As Jimmy Buffet says, "If we weren't all crazy, we'd all go insane!" This week is even crazier. My schedule changed and I have classes that I didn't know I was going to teach so I was not quite prepared for them. Something close to suicide if you can't think on your toes!

Our ESI retreat was really good. I was so glad to see my other teammates from around the country. I was also challenged in several ways. I met a man who had to flee his home in Iran because he became a Christian. He could stay there and be killed or he could leave his home, family and all that he knew and live. What a choice. He chose to leave and he can never return. It made me realize the we, as Americans, take our freedoms for granted. We live in a place where we have freedom to choose how to worship or if we want to worship. We may be looked down on or laughed at because of our beliefs or non-beliefs but it isn't a matter of life or death. It is right that we have and don't give a second thought about. Maybe it's time for that second thought.

On a lighter note, next week is my Spring Break. I will try to check in and update you about my travels depending on internet access. Please refrain from emailing me next week as I don't know how often I will be able to check email, if at all. I am going to Prague tomorrow to see Swan Lake at the National Theatre. I'll tell you all about it as soon as I can!
Have a great week!
Jessica