Everyday Life – Page 6 – Czech the Flip

Snow Freaks

Published on January 29, 2013 by Grace14 Comments

My son is now sick. I think it’s my fault. I must’ve overindulged him in too much snow. I did get what I wished for. We had a good amount of snow these past few days.

After seeing this much snow from my son’s bedroom window, it was only natural for him to want to go outside and play.

So last Friday, I took him out for a long walk in the woods.

It was -4C that day, but the cold did not seem to bother us. We were having fun! We crossed the woods to get to the other part of town. Everytime we find a little inclined space, we take advantage in sliding downhill on his sled.

By the time we got home, he was literally spent. He didn’t even wait to get to his room. He just crashed on the sofa.

This past weekend, we went skating with some friends. Because he is still too young to skate, we placed my son on a sled so he can still enjoy the ice with us. It was very cool. Unfortunately, that didn’t do him well. He got cold. And because he was also tired, getting sick was inevitable.

Now I am nursing him back to health. Hopefully, we can cut the “down time” so we can enjoy the snow all over again.

Winter Wonderland

Published on January 17, 2013 by Grace9 Comments

We had a good amount of snowfall this past week. My son had a blast!

In school, he was riding on sleds with his classmates.

They also made a snowman.

In one of our ‘neighborhood walks,’ I went to the woods with him on a sled. My right arm is hurting now but it was so worth the effort.

This whole winter thing is growing on me. I can’t believe I’m saying this, but I wish we will get more snow tomorrow.

Precious Moments

Published on December 29, 2012December 29, 2012 by Grace20 Comments

Another Christmas tradition here in Czech is to take a walk with the family on Christmas Eve. In our case, it became a post Christmas activity.

Since we were celebrating with the extended family, and the boys love trains, we took them out for a short train ride in a neighboring city. We then went on the back roads that connected one train station to another. I was lucky to snap a couple of pics of my little boy with his cousins.

Precious little moments….

I tried to coax them into looking at the camera, but wasn’t very successful.

Someone is always looking away.

A simple thing can also be a reason to play.

In this case, a simple bottle cover became a soccer ball.

Although the walk was not in the nicest part of town, it is one of the most memorable walks we’ve ever had.

Happy New Year, everyone!

‘Twas a Merry Christmas

Published on December 27, 2012December 27, 2012 by Grace13 Comments

Whew! It almost seems like such a long time since I have updated this blog. After moving to our new house 2 weekends ago, most of my time has been spent cleaning and fixing up the new place….and we are not finished yet. With Christmas just around the corner, I found myself even busier. Needless to say, life happened.

I will have a separate post regarding the house. Meanwhile, here’s how we spent our Christmas.

On Christmas day, we drove to my in-laws’ place in Moravia in this weather.

Just looking at the frozen fog was enough to frighten me a bit, but it really is a way of life over here. Everything seemed normal.

That same day, my husband’s brother and his family also came. It was a time for opening the gifts from Ježíšek (Little Jesus). Instead of Santa, Czechs believe that Ježíšek is the one bringing gifts. In our family, the children were asked to go with Grandpa and watch a pohadka (fairytale).

Meanwhile, the adults prepared the gifts and staged the room to appear like Ježíšek just left. This was done by opening one window and tolling the bell. When the children ran to the living room, they found presents under the tree.

Since they were too young to read, the adults helped tell them who the presents were for and they distributed the gifts.

Everyone was then busy opening their presents.

My little boy was very happy with the biggest gift he got from Ježíšek (a.k.a. grandma) – a toy digger.

At around 5pm that same day, we went to my husband’s grandparents to celebrate with the rest of the family.

There was another set of presents to open. But the best part was just bonding with the family.

While the kids were busy distributing presents from the tree, the adults were doing their thing.

The kids got toys, candies and chocolates, the men got wine…..

…. or slivovice (plum liquor).

No matter what generation, it is always a hit.

In one corner, I was chatting with my father-in-law and his mother.

Although there are a lot of nice material gifts, I guess that the best gift of all is family. Even though, my own Filipino family is too far away and I didn’t get to spend this Christmas with them, my Czech family provided me the necessary “warmth” I needed this winter season.

Integration

Published on December 13, 2012December 13, 2012 by Grace16 Comments

Yesterday, it was -4C (25F) outside. But I found myself enjoying my homemade guláš and downing it with a mug of cold beer. A year ago, the idea of drinking cold beer on a cold day was quite repulsive for me. Having been raised in a tropical country and spending a lot of time in a temperate country with very mild winters, snow was very foreign to me. But the longer I stay here in Czech, I am starting to appreciate it now. Somehow, dealing with the cold temperature has become a way of life. I guess I am now integrating.

Another tell-tale sign is that I am starting to dig Czech humor. Although I still don’t understand everything, I somehow get the drift. Here is one popular Christmas commercial that touches on a Czech tradition and is presented in a very humorous way.

During Christmas, some people still practice the old tradition of fasting prior to midnight. Little children are told that if they don’t eat anything, they will later on get rewarded with a sighting of a golden boar. In this commercial, the little girl is asking her dad what the boar looks like. She further mentions that she doesn’t need to wait for later since she is already seeing one.

I hope to awaken the Christmas spirit in me, as we are moving to our new place this weekend. After the long wait, it is finally here. The place is not fully furnished yet, but it is already “habitable.” But we don’t have a tree yet. I hope we don’t end up like the dad in the commercial. Ironically, we live close to the woods.

Jsem řidič

Published on December 7, 2012 by Grace16 Comments

After passing all my driving tests last week, I guess I am now eligible for a Czech driver’s license. I only started getting serious about obtaining a Czech driver’s license 4 months ago, after living here for more than a year now. One can get by with an International Driving Permit, but this is only good for one year. Since we are here indefinitely, there is the inevitable need for me to obtain a Czech Driver’s license. Obtaining a Czech driver’s license is quite a process.

In the beginning, I thought I could convert either one of my “other” driving licenses, since I already own 2, from 2 different countries. I tried. Unfortunately, I learned that I still need to go through the whole process all over again. Classes in English were only offered in Prague. Hence, I had to periodically endure the 1 hour commute to attend my classes, although I missed most of the theoretical lessons and only completed the compulsory behind-the-wheel sessions. In retrospect, I think doing it all over again was well worth it.

Unlike the other cities where I obtained my other licenses, testing here in Czech is a tad more complicated. One has to undergo three tests – a computer test on rules of the road and first aid, a verbal vehicle maintenance test, and finally a behind the wheel test. Honestly, I have to say that these intimidated me a lot. First, because my language proficiency is not at an intermediate level. Second, because failure was not an option. With the help of a court appointed interpreter, I managed to answer all the questions of the rules and vehicle maintenance tests correctly. Then came the behind-the-wheel test the following day. Although it was freezing that day, I managed to sweat. That’s how nervous I was. The examiner only spoke Czech so my driving school teacher had to give me the instructions in English. After probably 10 minutes of driving, (which felt like forever to me), the examiner told me to pull over to one side and flatly said I passed the test. I almost squealed with joy, but the mood inside the car was so serene, I had to conceal my emotions.

After going through the whole process, I feel like a huge weight had just been lifted off my shoulders. Sure I can drive, but I feel more confident now that I am fully aware of all the rules of the road and its possible dangers. Now I am proud to say that I am a Prague driver, a Los Angeles driver and a Manila driver. So sit tight. Buckle your seat belts. Let’s go!

Wordless Wednesday

Published on November 21, 2012 by Grace5 Comments

VEGAS IN MY MIND

Published on November 15, 2012November 15, 2012 by Grace17 Comments

As I was roaming through the streets of my little town today, something caught my attention. There is quite a number of “Herna” (casino) in some strategic spots around the city. Because Czechs do love the outdoors, this is a sighting that I rather find quite unlikely.

When I think of casinos, I think of Las Vegas. Back in California, whenever somebody wants to splurge, celebrate or relax, it is the place to go. Aside from gambling, there are a lot of concerts and shows that are being run in various hotels. Not to mention that top-of-the-line spas are also one of its biggest attractions. Needless to say, Vegas meant partying or relaxing.

But Vegas is not all about gambling or going wild. There are also a lot of things to do in Vegas outside the comfort of one’s hotel. One can visit Lake Mead and Hoover Dam, listed as one of the seven wonders of the industrial world. And for golf enthusiasts, there is also the option of visiting Boulder City, the only place in Nevada that is so unlike Vegas.

But perhaps one of my favorite and memorable activities on this side of the country was a trip to the Grand Canyon, right around Nevada’s neighboring state of Arizona. Although it is a few hours drive from Vegas, it is not that far away. The canyon’s unparalleled beauty was a great photography subject.

The short hikes to the viewing spots also provided a very good exercise for my feet and lungs.

Now that we are here in Czech, all I can do is reminisce those good old days. That’s why after seeing those casinos around town, I cannot help remembering those days when I was young and free and Vegas was just a few hours away.

Almost Done!

Published on October 18, 2012 by Grace42 Comments

I have been keeping mum these past few months about our big family project, but I cannot hold it off any longer. I am super excited. Our very own “passive house” is about to be realized!

Aesthetically, it may not look like anything from this perspective, but the main reason why we chose this type of design is its promise of slashing the heating energy consumption by an amazing 90%. It’s all about functionality! Not only is it environmentally-friendly, it will also be very pocket-friendly in the long run.

So what is a “Passive House”?

The passive house design was introduced by a German physicist Wolfgang Feist and Swedish professor Bo Adamson. It In 1996, the Passive House Institute in Germany was founded by Feist. Here in the Czech Republic, it is starting to gain popularity. According to Mother Earth News, there are only 15,000 buildings worldwide that are certified to have met passive house standards. In the US, this type of technology is just beginning to catch on with about a dozen buildings certified as “passive.”

The passive house design goes by the following basic concepts: Reducing Air Infiltration, Superinsulation, Eliminating Thermal Bridging, High performance (and properly placed) windows and doors, Super-efficient balanced ventilation systems, and Energy efficient design (compact) with healthy building materials and furnishings.

I wouldn’t go into details any further, but if you would like to know more about passive houses, this video presentation may help. Click here.

I will have to say that all credit relating to this project goes to my dear husband, one of the best engineers in the world. Long before this concept had been brought into fruition, he had it in his mind all along. When we decided to settle and build a home, he tirelessly did all the research on the best design that will fit our needs. The passive house was a clear choice from the very beginning, given all the benefits that this concept has to offer. We already knew what type of house we wanted to build without even knowing where or how it was going to be built. All the engineers in the family believe it is a great concept, so here it is.

Our house is situated in a new residential development area within Kolin surrounded by woods and a small body of water. We chose this location due to its proximity to nature and the neighborhood surrounding it.

This is the “zoomed in” view of our community.

But this is how it really looks like from the highway.

And this is what our “beach” looks like.

Who knows, it may even double as a skating rink during the winter. That, I have to find out soon.

Right now, we are very busy doing the final stages of the construction. Well, at least my husband is. I know it’s going to be a long project, but our goal is to move in before winter settles in. I am very curious to know if this passive house design will really live up to its concept and save us some money on our heating bills.

Although there is a lot of pressure ahead, I’m excited…..and I’m happy!

One of the most interesting things about a “passive house” is that it recycles all internal heat gains, including body heat from humans, the appliances, the computer, and the light bulbs! Needless to say, that during winter time, visitors can actually lower our energy bills.

So, will you come and visit?

Are You Adventurous?

Published on October 11, 2012 by Grace17 Comments

Having lived in 3 continents, and travelling to various parts of the world, I may as well consider myself adventurous. Well over a month ago, my friend Reena of www.reenareigns.wordpress.com, passed on the adventurous blogger award to me. Thank you very much, Reena!

To receive the award, one has to answer a couple of questions:

In which country or region would you like your next adventure to be? I would like to explore the African continent. I’ve read and heard a lot of good things in this part of the world but have never visited it. I hope I will have the chance to explore Africa someday.
Where would you recommend for an adventurous time? It depends on how much time you have for this adventure. There are a lot of interesting places in Asia, the US and Czech. But if you have limited time, I would recommend visiting the Yosemite Valley in California.
Most interesting culture: What I find interesting may change as I age, but I currently find Czech culture pretty interesting. After living here for a year, I found out that it has a lot of similarities to my own culture, but also a lot of differences when it comes to Asian culture in general.
Favourite activity: Tasting the food, conversing in the local language and spending time in historical places.
Most dangerous risk taken: Hiking in Bryce Canyon, Utah. I’m a wimp when it comes to heights.
Favourite quotation:
Adventure is worthwhile in itself. – Amelia Earhart
Happiness is: CONTENTMENT

As part of my blogging journey, I have met a lot of wonderful people who inspire me everyday with their own adventures. Though I cannot name everyone, here are the 12 bloggers who I think should also be receiving this award:

Writing Between The Lines

Crazy Train To Tinky Town

Another Day in Paradise

I write what I Like

Bucket List Publications

50 Year Project

The Open Suitcase

On the Road with Jim and Mary