I was on the Krokodyl facebook page today and saw a couple of pictures of Jakub from their school activities. I always appreciate seeing these photos since I am curious to know how my son is thriving in school. From the looks of it, he is having fun!
This is his “take-a-picture-of-me” photo.
Photo courtesy of Zuzana Yousif
And when I say he is a handful, this is what I mean.
Photo courtesy of Zuzana Yousif
It’s hard to keep him still, as he always wants to be on the move. Worst part is, he always wants to do what the bigger kids are doing….or the opposite.
Photo courtesy of Zuzana Yousif
Sometimes, he even wants to do what mama does to him.
Oh, this boy!
On another note, while I was on my way to pick him up from school this morning, I was wondering why people were looking at me like as if a nut fell out of my head. It was then when I realized that I was pushing an empty stroller. So those people may have passed me off as a looney.
Olomouc is the fifth largest city in the Czech Republic. It is located in the heart of the Hana region in Moravia and currently inhabited by more than 100,000 citizens.
Map of Olomouc found at the city center
The first stop during our visit to Olomouc was the Holy Hill: The Church of the Visitation of the Virgin Mary . In 1995, Pope John Paul II paid a visit at this church and it was also during that year when the Roman Catholic church declared it as a minor basilica. Today, the Holy Hill is one of the most visited places in Olomouc.
My parents, being devout Catholics, were so happy to have had the opportunity to visit this place.
We also visited the St. Wenceslaus cathedral, the seat of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Olomouc.
Another famous landmark in Olomouc is the Holy Trinity column, which is currently listed as a UNESCO world heritage site.
Erected in the 18th century, this monument is the best example of a typical Central European column.
And of course, just like most cities in Europe, Olomouc has beautiful fountains.
There are only two astronomical clocks in the Czech Republic. The first one is in Prague and the second one in Olomouc.
The Olomouc astronomical clock is quite unique because it was remodelled in the first few years of communism. After the fall of communism in the ’80s, most of the prominent statues and monuments were removed, but the astronomical clock remained. Today, it offers the viewer a glimpse of the communist era in Czech. It has massive mosaics of workers and scientists and a dial that turns to display the International day of the Worker and the birthdays of Lenin and Stalin.
Like most cities here in Czech, the city of Olomouc is laden with cobblestones and surrounded by beautiful architecture.
Although difficult for driving , a narrow street is my favorite passageway.
If you are craving for Asian food, there is always a Chinese restaurant somewhere. In Olomouc, you can find it at the town square.
Olomouc is one of the cities that you should definitely see during your trip to the Czech Republic.
For more information about this city, you can visit this site.
When my husband tells me that I can’t drive, I get annoyed and oftentimes it becomes a catalyst for me having a bad day. I have a Philippine driver’s license and a California driver’s license. Unfortunately, both of them are not good enough for Europe, so there is still a need for me to get the Czech Driver’s license. Since last month, I have been enrolled in a driving school to help me secure that Czech license. Although confident with my driving skills, I soon later found out that driving in Prague can be stressful and can be hair-raising at times.
When I came home from driving school one night, my little boy eagerly ran to greet me.
He asked: “Mama, can you drive?” Thinking that he was touted by his dad to ask me that question, I annoyingly replied: “Of course, mama can drive! Mama has been driving for years!”
But then he asked me again: “Can you drive in a police car?”
This past week had been a busy one for us. Our little boy had his first day of school last Thursday and I started a new gig. For a two year old, Jakub is pretty good with separation anxiety. In the beginning, he was overwhelmed with the new surroundings and the new faces, so he was clinging on to me. But as soon as he saw the toys and warmed up to the people, he was perfectly fine.
Photo courtesy of Zuzana Yousif
Sending him to school was like replaying those memories when I had to put him in daycare because I had to go back to work. It was a little bit tough to go back home to an empty house. And of course, it is also normal for a mom to be anxious about her child’s safety when in somebody else’s care. But because I know that he is safe and can survive by himself, it was a lot easier for me. There were no tears shed. When I picked him up that afternoon, both of us came home happy and satisfied.
He is recently attending a private preschool close to our place. The place is called Krokodyl Kolin and it is operating on its first year this year. After a quick search on preschools within our area, I opted to let him go to Krokodyl because of its Montessori pedagogy approach that favors individual work of children, where the caregiver is a guide and mentor and the child is encouraged to get things tested and explored. Tasks like dressing, hygiene, working with utilities, cleaning, preparing snacks etc. are just a few of the activities that they teach. Teaching is mainly in Czech which is perfect for Jakub’s adaptation into Czech society.
Photo courtesy of Zuzana Yousif
Krokodyl offers a variety of programs to suit each child’s needs. Whether you prefer sending your child to school the whole week, 2x a week or even once per week, the choice is yours. Since Jakub is only 2, I decided to let him attend classes two times per week, halfday. Besides, we have an exercise class that we regularly attend on Mondays, and I wanted to spend the other 2 days with him. Ten hours of “me” time per week is enough for me. So far, I have observed that he is quite happy with this arrangement. He comes home with artwork that he did in class and sometimes I would catch him singing nursery rhymes that I am not familiar with.
The little guy serving his own meal.
If you would like to know more about Krokodyl, please click on this link. You can also find them on facebook here.
On his first day, his teacher promised to send me a text message to update me on how he is doing. She said: “Jakub is perfectly fine…the quickest child here.” I am not so surprised. Even if he is my only child, I already have my hands full.
Holašovice is a small historical farming village in the Southern part of the Czech Republic. After visiting Cesky Krumlov, we decided to take a quick peek at this little village which has been recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
During the 15th century, this village was nearly wiped out by the Bubonic plague. Its significance lies in the fact that it is a typical Bohemian farming village. It has been abandoned during the second world war and post communist Czech, and was only recently restored in 1990.
It was amazing to see how old these houses were.
The current population of this village is approximately 140. Thus, its quiet surroundings and natural charm somehow provide a calming effect and a welcome reprieve for the stresses of city living.
For those who are visiting Cesky Krumlov or Ceske Budejovice, I would recommend this place as a great side trip.
More information about Holašovice can be found here.
One of my favorite places in the Czech Republic is Český Krumlov. Located in Southern Bohemia, the town is a 2 and a half hour drive from Prague.
Due to its old-world charm and natural beauty, it is one of the most visited places in Czech. On our trip there, I was surprised to see a lot of Asian tourists. Other than Prague, this town had the most diverse tourist population compared to the other places we visited.
The castle, with its beautiful gardens, offers breath-taking views of the city.
But the inner city is not to be outdone. It also has its own charm that enchants every visitor.
Český Krumlov is a city bordered by the Vlatava river. Thus, it is not surprising to see that canoeing, kayaking and rafting is one of its best attractions.
During our trip, we didn’t get to do this, but it gave us motivation to go back. Perhaps when Jakub is older, we can try it.
I felt that the 2 days that we spent there was a very short trip, but it gave us reason to come back for more.
For those of you who are interested in checking out this place, more information can be found here.
Czech the Flip 