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Half 'n Half

    Holidays

    A Project in Patience

    December 15, 2022
    5 people crouched around a mini snowman

    For me, nothing says ‘Tis the Season more than sitting at my computer, sipping a coffee, and squeezing a year’s worth of family photos into 111 pages of a photo book. It’s a process for which I’ve sacrificed hours of sleep in the past decade. It’s time-consuming, solitary, and technologically challenging. My photo book is a self-inflicted, end-of-the-year tradition that I annually lament and take great pride in.…

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  • close up shot of Czech Lessons cover
    Czech Culture & Adaptation Education

    Some lessons I learned from a book about Czech society (that I didn’t write)

    On the twentieth anniversary of her arrival in Prague, Jessica Kendall Hankiewicz published a book titled Czech Lessons: Reflections on a Post-Communist Society (October 2022). In ten essays and three sets of conversations with…

    December 2, 2022
  • Education Language

    Johnny with 2 Ns, a beginner’s mentality & curiosity in the classroom

    I peered over my student’s shoulder. I saw the black inked letters J-O-N-Y printed on the white name tag I’d folded and placed on each student’s desk. My student, otherwise known to his Czech…

    October 4, 2021
  • A young Babi with Deda
    Multicultural Family

    Grief 101: How My Daughter and I Mourned Death Together in Quarantine

    When we heard the news of Babi’s death, we were on a family bike ride, wearing face masks and keeping our distance from other Czechs who had also escaped to the countryside that Saturday…

    May 15, 2020
  • students' clay faces hanging on a school's fence
    Education Language

    Why our tech world needs kids who craft

    Whether it’s playing a lively game of Guess in 10, using Rory Story Cubes to tell a make-believe narrative, or simply providing a crafting workspace and keeping my mouth shut when my boys swipe…

    March 13, 2020
  • a passport drawn by a child
    Multicultural Family Travel

    The Passport Game

    In the age of Trump, when fear, nationalism, and racism have spread from the United States outward toward Europe and beyond, even raising my children in a fairytale village outside of Prague still doesn’t…

    January 30, 2020
  • Our family sitting with Kathleen at a table
    Holidays Multicultural Family

    At the Black Horse Pub

    Years from now, I bet I will have forgotten how many times my children asked, "Can we go already?" during our three-day whirlwind in NYC. But I am pretty sure we will all remember…

    January 23, 2020
  • Autumn Outdoor Life Travel

    Wet Feet in the Jizera Mountains

    There is a part of me that will always want to register for a planned race – to know the variables I am up against and to gauge my chances against known odds. But,…

    October 25, 2019
  • Czech Culture & Adaptation Education

    When Back to School Nerves Strike Mom

    It’s a few nights before school starts in the Czech Republic. My children are sprawled across their beds, breathing soundly. It’s me that can’t sleep. I could blame my restlessness on the mini-heat wave.…

    August 29, 2019
  • Running shoe in snow
    Outdoor Life

    How to Train for a Spring Marathon

    Registering to run the Prague May 6th marathon (and its sister half-marathon to be held 4-weeks before), had been a split-second, instinctive decision made on a dark November night, when I was desperate for a…

    April 5, 2019
  • a colourful stack of books on bar
    Holidays Multicultural Family

    Doing What Needs to Be Done

    Each year in early January, Radek and I sat down to map out our family’s adventures and sync our planners (his electronic, mine a hardbound “student’s planner”) until the following September. With three children…

    February 7, 2019
  • Emily with her children cross-country skiing
    Travel Winter

    A Family That Skis Together Stays Together, Right?

    Introducing the sport of cross-country skiing to our avid downhillers…

    January 25, 2019
  • a table top with a beer and coffee and a woman in the background
    Education

    How I survived a “třídní schůzka” without (too much) embarrassment

    Seated alone at a table for two, I looked at the faces of the Czech parents crowded at a long table in front of me. I wondered (not for the first time since moving…

    December 7, 2018
  • My three children sitting on a rock in the mountains
    Multicultural Family Outdoor Life

    Hitting the trails with my (somewhat reluctant) tweens

    When my children were younger, hiking was simple. Sure, we had extra things to pack (milk, diapers, changes of clothes), naptimes to work around, and the occasional temper tantrum to defuse. But, my kids…

    November 9, 2018
  • Czech flags on a handpainted sign announcing Czech-Slovak baked goods
    Czech Culture & Adaptation Holidays

    Happy Birthday Czechia

    Dear Czechia, I hope you don’t mind me calling you Czechia. The Czech Republic seems too formal for a letter between friends. When the hoopla about finding a short name for you made the headlines,…

    October 26, 2018
  • outdoor cafe at Dejvice roundabout
    Czech Culture & Adaptation

    Paying for Ketchup

    I should have picked something more Czech, I think as I pace outside the Starbucks café. School has been in session for a few days, and the open-air café space near the traffic circle…

    October 12, 2018
  • Moravian Wine Country
    Autumn Travel

    Exploring Moravia on Two Wheels

    A multi-family trip to wine country (Czech-style)…

    October 3, 2018
  • Blog Outdoor Life Summer Travel

    “Rewilding” my Czech-American children

    Thirteen-year-old Anna laughed when she read aloud the cover of my September Outside Magazine, “Rewilding the American Child.” “What’s this about, Mom,” she said, “How do you ‘rewild’ a kid? Can I read it?"…

    September 3, 2018
  • empty lot with two diggers and ditches dug
    Czech Culture & Adaptation Outdoor Life

    The Empty Lot

    Ten years ago, our children claimed the empty lot before we did. You could say they took advantage of the “freedom to roam” act, an act which allows the public in some European countries,…

    June 14, 2018
  • Emily and Anna on bikes below Karlstejn Castle
    Outdoor Life Spring

    11 Czech Ways to Enjoy Spring (unplugged!)

    Ever since I survived my first Czech winter (more than 15 years ago), spring has become one of my favorite times to live in the Czech Republic. As the weather grows warmer and the…

    April 20, 2018
  • flower basket with watering can and gloves
    Outdoor Life Spring

    Confessions of a Reluctant Gardener

    Despite my strong attraction for being outside (in any season), I am at my least-best when asked to work in my garden. I feel particularly conflicted about my lack of gardening enthusiasm because many…

    April 13, 2018
  • Prucha family standing in front of Arc de Triomph
    Multicultural Family Travel

    The Pruchas Do Paris

    When Radek mentioned he’d like to take me to Paris to celebrate my 40th birthday (which happened to coincide with Easter weekend), it sounded too good to be true. I imagined walking hand in…

    April 5, 2018
  • Anna, Oliver & Sam at the kitchen table reading with books and magazines around them
    Education Multicultural Family

    Raising Multilingual Readers

    It’s Saturday night at our local microbrewery. Radek and I are chatting about the recent Czech presidential election with our neighbors. (Truth: They’re making jokes. I’m listening in hopes of improving my Czech humor.)…

    March 27, 2018
  • Emily's Kids hiking
    Multicultural Family

    Raising Kids Far From Home

    Dear Half 'n Half readers, Sadly, my blog will no longer run on Fridays in The Prague Daily Monitor's Life section. However, a new Half 'n Half website is under construction, and I hope…

    March 24, 2018
  • Rose, red, single and green HD photo by Katrina Berban (@kattrinnaaaaa) on Unsplash
    Czech Culture & Adaptation

    Saying “I love you” in Czech

    How do Czechs feel about expressing endearment (& not just on Valentine's Day)…

    February 13, 2018
  • Language Multicultural Family

    Speaking Czech (& English) with a smile

    I meet Martina at Café IF in Prague’s Vinohrady neighborhood. Café IF is a trendy spot, serving exquisite pastries, fresh smoothies with names like Vitality and Elixir of Youth, and boulangerie breakfasts of quiche…

    February 9, 2018
  • Mommy, can you pomoc me?
    Language Multicultural Family

    Raising children who speak “Czechlish”

    In our house, it’s common to hear 7-year-old Samuel say, “Mommy, can you zavazovat my tkaničky?” To which I respond, “You want me to help you tie your shoelaces?” “Yep.” He grins. “They got…

    February 2, 2018
  • Anna jumping on skis
    Outdoor Life Travel Winter

    5 Things You Need to Make Your Family’s Wintertime Trip to the Czech Mountains a Success

    Getting away for the weekend is one of my family’s favorite things about life in the Czech Republic. Regardless of the season, once Friday afternoon arrives, we love to hit the road. …

    January 26, 2018
  • Holidays Multicultural Family

    A case of post-holiday blues

    Sometimes, the best part of a holiday comes after the fireworks have been set off, the Christmas tree has been taken down, and the house is quiet again. Right? At least, that’s what I…

    January 15, 2018
  • Holidays Multicultural Family

    Christmas without a carp

    For the past three Christmases (and many before that), my family has become temporary caretakers of a large, bottom-dwelling carp. Although having our Christmas dinner swimming in the bathtub a few days before we…

    December 14, 2017
  • Mikulas
    Holidays

    Behind the Scenes of the Mikuláš Tradition

    Praising the nice and punishing the naughty…

    December 3, 2017
  • Czech Culture & Adaptation Holidays

    Why I’m grateful for a Bohemian perspective

    5 reasons to appreciate life in the Czech Republic (all year long) With Thanksgiving and the arrival of the advent season, my social media pages are packed with posts about gratitude and getting ready…

    November 23, 2017
  • Autumn Outdoor Life Travel

    Getting to the starting line

    How signing up for a half marathon in Dresden paved the way for an unexpected travel adventure When I registered to run the Dresden half marathon back in the summer, I hadn’t imagined that…

    November 12, 2017
  • Education Multicultural Family

    An apple a day

    Staying balanced by teaching English After 15 years of teaching English as a Foreign Language (EFL) in Prague (with a few gaps for birthing babies), this year I decided to quit. In lieu of…

    October 19, 2017
  • Autumn Outdoor Life Travel

    Settling into autumn (on two wheels)

    Embracing the changing season…

    September 29, 2017
  • Czech; Learning New Language Writing Words on the Notebook
    Czech Culture & Adaptation Language

    How I learned to speak Czech (and you can too)

    #what happens when you stay…

    September 15, 2017
  • Close up of female hands on the steering. Traveler girl on car trip, looking at the road. View over shoulder.
    Czech Culture & Adaptation Multicultural Family

    Driving School at 40

    Yielding to the right on Prague's cobblestone streets…

    September 1, 2017
  • Language Summer Travel

    On Spanish Time

    Bringing a third language (and culture) into our family’s linguistic mix…

    August 18, 2017
  • Multicultural Family Summer Travel

    Welcome home (Czech style)

    Transitioning back to life in the Czech Republic…

    August 11, 2017
  • group of happy kids roasting marshmallows on campfire
    Summer Travel

    2017 Summer Camps for English-Speaking Children

    When school’s out & your children want an adventure…

    May 23, 2017
  • Easter stick and colorful eggs
    Holidays

    Easter Monday: To Whip or Not?

    Why Czechs are ditching their whips to head to the cottage, walk in nature or visit castles instead…

    April 14, 2017
  • Income tax return form with computer keyboard calculator and notebook
    Czech Culture & Adaptation

    Filing US Taxes Abroad

    Expat taxes for Americans living & working in the Czech Republic…

    January 13, 2017
  • Christmas, christmas tree, bauble and lights HD photo by freestocks.org (@freestocks) on Unsplash
    Holidays

    Highlights of a Czech Christmas

    Christmas is knocking on our doors…

    December 19, 2016
  • Travel Winter

    Wintertime Getaways for Families

    Three mountain retreats to please Mom, Dad & the kids…

    December 13, 2016
  • Gift, present, christmas and parcel HD photo by rawpixel.com (@rawpixel) on Unsplash
    Holidays

    All I want for Christmas…

    Enjoying simple holiday rituals plus 5 experience-gifts for adventurous kids in Prague (& their parents)…

    December 6, 2016
  • Sick Day accessories photo by Kelly Sikkema (@kellysikkema) on Unsplash
    Czech Culture & Adaptation

    Czech remedies for an early cold season

    Weathering the sniffles and keeping fit as temperatures drop…

    October 25, 2016
  • Macro view of baseball photo by Joey Kyber (@jtkyber1) on Unsplash
    Czech Culture & Adaptation

    Batter up!

    How the All-American sport of baseball is finding a place of its own with CZ youth…

    September 22, 2016
  • Colorful Clown photo by Levi Saunders (@levisaunders) on Unsplash
    Education

    The serious business of clowning

    Dr. Klutz brings his one-man English theater show to schools…

    September 12, 2016
  • School, learning, book and apple HD photo by Element5 Digital (@element5digital) on Unsplash
    Education

    Back to School: 10 Must-Haves for the Czech School Year

    Prague.TV has compiled a list of 10 elementary school must-haves and where to find them…

    August 16, 2016
  • Machas lake in the morning. Czech landscape
    Summer Travel

    5 Family-Friendly Camping Spots

    From camping on the shores of Mácháč to sleeping beneath “rock city” in Czech Paradise…

    June 2, 2016
  • Sumer's tent camp with canoe, Slezska Harta, Czech Republic
    Summer Travel

    Summer camps or “letní tábory” in Prague (and beyond)

    Sports, arts, science & outdoor camps to keep your child entertained while you’re at work…

    May 20, 2016
  • Outdoor Life Spring Travel

    Playground Hopping in Prague

    11 family friendly play areas (i.e. monkey bars, zip lines & water attractions) for almost-summer days…

    May 15, 2016
  • brightly coloured salad in a bowl
    Multicultural Family

    My husband’s salads

    The art of slicing carrots and arranging greens I didn’t marry my husband for his salad-making ability, although it was one of the things my mother pointed out to his advantage during his first…

    May 11, 2016
  • student taking a test
    Education

    School entrance exams – effort or result?

    When your child’s best doesn’t make the cut In late April, after the snow thaws but before the lilacs bloom, thousands of Czech students aged 11 – 14, sit for half-day school entrance examinations…

    May 5, 2016
  • etnosvet
    Food & Dining

    Etnosvět: A multifarious experience

    Upmarket vegetarian dining with a world-cuisine approach…

    April 20, 2016
  • Man holding clipboard on blurred boxes background
    Czech Culture & Adaptation

    It’s Moving Time

    Summertime brings a high volume of relocation to and from the CZ…

    April 11, 2016
  • Outdoor Life Spring Travel

    Weekend Relax: It’s Chata Season Again

    Why going to the cottage is still one of the most popular pastimes for Czechs…

    April 5, 2016
  • AROMI RESTAURANT & BISTRO
    Food & Dining

    Chef Riccardo Lucque on his new Aromi Ristorante & Bistro

    And why dim sum with an Italian flair may soon be on his menus…

    March 23, 2016
  • Bubble, bubble performance, street and performer HD photo by Vitaliy Paykov (@paykoff) on Unsplash
    Czech Culture & Adaptation

    Going Unplugged in Prague

    7 fun alternatives to tablets, mobile phones & television…

    March 18, 2016
  • Woman sitting on a park bench looking through binoculars
    Czech Culture & Adaptation

    7 Ways to Spot a Bohemian “Baby Boomer”

    What's unique about Czechs born during the 1970s?…

    March 1, 2016
  • Gourmet meal and white wine photo by Jay Wennington (@jaywennington) on Unsplash
    Food & Dining

    At the Table with “Gastronaut” Pavel Maurer

    How Maurer’s Top 10 Lists are making smarter eaters & why “Taste Waste” is his new passion…

    February 8, 2016
  • Clock, gold, timepiece and measuring instrument HD photo by Fabrizio Verrecchia (@fabrizioverrecchia) on Unsplash
    Czech Culture & Adaptation

    20 Things I wish I had known when I married a Czech (and moved to the Czech Republic)

    A random list of personal adaptations to Czech culture from over a decade of life here…

    February 4, 2016
  • Japanese fusion food photo by Vitchakorn Koonyosying (@mggbox) on Unsplash
    Food & Dining

    Zdenek’s Oyster Bar: Oysters, Caviar & Champagne

    Approaching five years of bringing oysters & innovation to Prague’s seafood scene…

    February 2, 2016
  • skiing
    Travel Winter

    5 Kid-Friendly Wintertime Trips

    Skiing & skating in Sumava, building Legos in Berlin, touring a snow-covered fortress in Saxon Switzerland & more…

    January 14, 2016
  • Electrocardiogram chart and stethoscope
    Czech Culture & Adaptation

    A Basic Guide to Czech Healthcare for English Speakers

    How to maximize your experience when you’re sick, injured or need a doctor’s advice …

    January 11, 2016
  • children in the first class with their parents at the first day of school year
    Education

    Heading to First Grade: Tips for Registering at a Czech Elementary School

    Prague.TV’s tips to make the upcoming school registration process smooth…

    January 4, 2016
  • Crown, silver, white and diamond HD photo by Ashton Mullins (@ashtonmullins) on Unsplash
    Holidays

    Once upon a “pohádka”

    Settle down on the couch, it’s time for a dose of Czech fairytales…

    December 23, 2015
  • Christmas, festive, cookie and biscuit HD photo by Mira Bozhko (@miroslava) on Unsplash
    Holidays

    Christmas Baking the Czech Way

    Get out your rolling pins and cookie cutters, it’s not too late…

    December 16, 2015
  • Gourmet Chef photo by Fabrizio Magoni (@fabmag) on Unsplash
    Food & Dining

    A Fireside Chat at U Emy Destinnové

    American chef & owner Steven Trumpfheller says thanks…

    December 10, 2015
  • Ice Skaters skating on a public ice rink with a background of Prague Castle in Letna park
    Travel Winter

    Top Family-Friendly Spots to Ice Skate this Holiday Season

    Show off your figure eights at these outdoor and indoor rinks…

    December 8, 2015
  • czech culture & adaptation
    Language

    Learning from the young

    How to survive when your child speaks better Czech than you do…

    November 20, 2015
  • Education in Czech Republic concept
    Education

    What to know about the Czech eight-year gymnázium system

    Selecting a school, open house days and entrance exams…

    November 19, 2015
  • Drawing of school bus on blackboard
    Education

    Away we go

    A few things you should know about a busload of preschoolers (and the parents left behind)…

    November 6, 2015
  • Sněžka sunrays on a mountain photo by Jakub Kriz (@jakubkriz) on Unsplash
    Autumn Travel

    Tips for Trips: Hiking Sněžka

    A cable car ride and crossing the Czech/Polish border on foot…

    November 5, 2015
  • Memorial hill Rip, Czech Republic
    Autumn Travel

    Tips for Trips: Říp

    Mecca to the Czechs?…

    October 30, 2015
  • Balloon, face, bunch and sunlight HD photo by Hybrid (@_hybrid_) on Unsplash
    Czech Culture & Adaptation

    The power of a smile (and not a fake one)

    Changing old Czech stereotypes…

    October 23, 2015
  • Bookshelf photo by kazuend (@kazuend) on Unsplash
    Education

    Got books?

    Keeping your child's language skills alive with English books…

    October 23, 2015
  • Italian cooking in cook and meet class
    Food & Dining

    Cook & Meet

    Learn to cook like an Italian and meet international friends in a relaxed atmosphere…

    October 16, 2015
  • Violin strings in close-up photo by Providence Doucet (@providence) on Unsplash
    Education

    Raising the next Dvořák

    The Czech approach to musical training for children…

    October 13, 2015
  • Cross my fingers and hold my thumbs
    Czech Culture & Adaptation Multicultural Family

    Why I cross my fingers and hold my thumbs

    Even childhood anxiety gets a bi-cultural spin…

    October 9, 2015
  • The pleasure of playing football photo by Click and Boo (@clickandboo) on Unsplash
    Czech Culture & Adaptation

    Bringing children’s toys back to the basics

    Traditional Czech children's toys & hands-on workshops…

    October 9, 2015
  • , male, toddler and child HD photo by Daiga Ellaby (@daiga_ellaby) on Unsplash
    Education

    5 things your child will learn in Czech kindergarten (and what he won’t)

    With seven years experience, I've learned a few things about what to expect ...…

    October 5, 2015
  • Rabbit in Cream Paprika Sauce
    Czech Culture & Adaptation Czech Food

    Rabbit’s teeth & a boar’s jaw

    How CZ cuisine has taught me to appreciate game meat…

    September 25, 2015
  • Child holding jack-o-lantern photo by Julia Raasch (@julesrsh) on Unsplash
    Autumn Outdoor Life Travel

    Hunting down a jack-o-lantern

    Pumpkins at large in the Czech Republic’s autumn scene…

    September 18, 2015
  • Rohlik
    Czech Culture & Adaptation

    How do you eat your rohlík?

    What is so special about the Czech rohlík?…

    September 4, 2015
  • Mountain biker in the Alps
    Outdoor Life Summer Travel

    Let ‘er rip (or not)

    Overcoming fear and disappointment in the Swiss Alps…

    August 21, 2015
  • Teapot, pot, cup and tea HD photo by Anete Lūsiņa (@anete_lusina) on Unsplash
    Multicultural Family Summer Travel

    A cup of tea

    Learning patience, one tea party at a time…

    August 7, 2015
  • A green tree frog held by a young boy
    Education

    Animal Clubs in Prague

    Where to go when your child can’t have a pet of his own…

    July 24, 2015
  • group of happy kids roasting marshmallows on campfire
    Outdoor Life Summer Travel

    Look out Camp Cheerio, here I come

    Sending my daughter to her first sleepaway summer camp in the US…

    July 17, 2015
  • Man, male, lab and laboratory HD photo by Lucas Vasques (@luvqs) on Unsplash
    Czech Culture & Adaptation

    Genomac — it’s all in your genes

    Or at least, there’s more there than you thought…

    June 23, 2015
  • Bohemian Paradise. (Cesky raj)
    Summer Travel

    Bohemian Paradise

    Exploring the Český ráj region with children…

    June 5, 2015
  • Outdoor Life
    Multicultural Family

    When I grow up

    Reflecting on 10 years of motherhood in the CZ…

    May 22, 2015
  • Cyclist riding walking along a cycle path in the wood surroundings of Trebon, South Bohemia.
    Outdoor Life Spring Travel

    Biking around the world in Třebon, CZ

    Touring the country's fishpond region on two wheels…

    May 15, 2015
  • Aerial view of Pilsner brewery and historical center of Pilsen, Czech republic, European union.
    Spring Travel

    Techmania in Pilsen, CZ

    Sunday afternoon science center visit – treat or chore?…

    May 1, 2015
  • Witch burning
    Czech Culture & Adaptation Holidays

    Witch burning in the CZ

    A community event with a fiery twist…

    April 24, 2015
  • Stroller photo by Micael Widell (@micaelwidell) on Unsplash
    Czech Culture & Adaptation

    Stroller Identity

    Why I strangely miss Czech stroller culture …

    April 17, 2015
  • Skyhigh. photo by Paul Paul (@prodigypaul) on Unsplash
    Multicultural Family Summer Travel

    Flying home

    How living so far from my roots actually makes me feel closer.…

    April 10, 2015
  • Family Picnic photo by John-Mark Kuznietsov (@mrrrk_smith) on Unsplash
    Czech Culture & Adaptation

    Half ‘n Half Welcome

    For any non-Czech, living in the Czech Republic is a learning process, a series of linguistic and cultural adaptations to a new way of life.…

    April 1, 2015
  • Easter Eggs
    Holidays

    Easter in the Czech Republic

    Adjusting pagan Easter traditions for a modern Czech Easter…

    March 27, 2015
  • Oliver, Samuel, and Anna
    Language Multicultural Family

    Too much Czech?

    My neighbors joke that I am now Czech. That after living among them for more than ten years, I am one of them. “Už seš naše” (you are ours), they declare with what seems…

    March 19, 2015
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About Me

About Me

When I’m not teaching English or writing stories, you can find me biking or running on Czech trails, looking for mushrooms, or skiing in the mountains. In summer, my family likes camping, rafting, and paddle-boarding in the Czech Republic (and beyond). Although we love to explore new places, visits to my US hometown are also favorite travel experiences. Read More

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Family Trip to Snowshoe, West Virginia for hiking, Family Trip to Snowshoe, West Virginia for hiking, skiing, snowboarding, & cousin time. Luckily, we beat the arctic storm. No slopes for me this year, but I still loved watching everyone in action. 
❄️❤️☃️🎄⛷🏂❤️❄️
Happy 18th Birthday to my beautiful Christmas baby Happy 18th Birthday to my beautiful Christmas baby !!! ❤️🎄❄️ @annaleeprucha, you were my best Christmas surprise ever😍🥰😘
Recently, I had the good fortune to interview fell Recently, I had the good fortune to interview fellow emigrant Jessica Kendall Hankiewicz. We talked about her new book Czech Lessons, and how we both taught ourselves to speak the Czech language through trial and error and with help from very patient Czech friends. See my Half ‘Half homepage for the full story. As I write in my post, “Czech Lessons is informative, humorous, and, at times, deeply personal.” It’s a great read for anyone interested in learning more about Czech society in the past twenty years.
Saturday roadtrip with Radek & Sam to the #dresden Saturday roadtrip with Radek & Sam to the #dresdenchristmasmarket for #svarak and #currywurst.
When I asked my class of Czech elementary school t When I asked my class of Czech elementary school teachers where they were on November 17, 1989, they each had a story. One was at home after delivering a baby, one was in Moravia, where no one in her village knew anything about the protests in Prague until days later. One student was in downtown Prague at the theater. Before the curtain opened, the actors came on stage to tell the audience it would be their final show because they would go on strike to join the students that had just begun protesting at Narodni. Along with others in the audience, my student thought the announcement must be a hoax. Yet, after the performance, when she was led out of the theater through a safe corridor, she realized something was really happening. She joined other protestors in Letna to hear Vaclav Havel. It was the beginning of the Velvet Revolution.
Last night, Radek and I headed downtown for a night walk, a retro tram ride and a concert. It’s foggy, damp and grey in Prague these days and keeping spirits up is a challenge. But it warmed me to see the city under a different light and to take a moment to remember one of the most important days in recent Czech history.
We spent a fun outdoor weekend with one of my olde We spent a fun outdoor weekend with one of my oldest (by this I mean longest) Czech friends. We walked, we talked education (Jolana teaches English & Spanish at a Czech gymnazium) and we reminisced about early times in our friendship. Jolana and Radek knew each other in the US even before Radek and I met in Prague. Later, she translated our wedding ceremony in my VA hometown. When we returned to Prague 17 autumns ago, Jolana’s daughter became Anna’s first Czech friend. This weekend our 7 children reconnected while chopping firewood, rap dueling in English, finding their way through a castle labyrinth, and complaining about moms who don’t pack enough snacks for a Sunday morning hike. 💚🍁🥾🇨🇿🏰💚
My 12-year old demonstrating his early morning exc My 12-year old demonstrating his early morning excitement (hurrah!) upon finding the latest issue of Gate Magazine in the mail. 😊 Bridge, Gate, Ready and Play magazines are a family of leveled English language learning magazines published for students in the Czech Republic and Slovakia. In the past year, I’ve been lucky to contribute stories to several issues. I'm particularly proud of a recent story I wrote about the complicated history of the American Thanksgiving tradition and the Wampanoag Indian tribe. Each month, the magazines are filled with cultural articles, profiles of pop icons, games and comics, sports stories and tips for students learning English as a foreign language. Written by native speakers from around the world, these magazines offer age-appropriate, authentic texts for teachers to use in the classroom or for leisure time reading. And, they get a stamp of approval from my own native speaking children! Check out their website at https://www.bridge-online.cz/en/ for more information. #anglictinaproskoly, #englishforczechteens, #englishinczech, #anglictinaucitel, #teachingenglishtokids, #ceskaucitelka
Saturday afternoon walk at Karlstejn Castle with o Saturday afternoon walk at Karlstejn Castle with our French exchange student. Anna’s linguistic flexibility (navigating between French, English and Czech) has been impressive to watch this week. Sadly, my high school French has left me understanding quite a bit but unable to say much beyond “bonjour” and “bon appetit.” 🇨🇿🇫🇷🇺🇸
Making friends on the slopes🐄☀️🚲⛰ Our Making friends on the slopes🐄☀️🚲⛰
Our first ebike experience in the Austrian Alps was so much fun! We loved climbing routes we’d usually ride a ski lift on and seeing the logging paths and mountain huts from a different angle. Most services are closed in this dead time between summer mountain biking and winter skiing, and it felt like we were the only ones (apart from the cows) enjoying the views.💚
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Halfnhalf-life.com is a personal blog (and portfolio website) of stories written by me. The views and opinions expressed on these pages are my own, and all information provided on this site is for entertainment and informational purposes only. Although I have done my best to provide accurate, up-to-date information, from time to time, you may find mistakes. View full disclaimer here.

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Disclaimer

Halfnhalf-life.com is a personal blog (and portfolio website) of stories written by me. The views and opinions expressed on these pages are my own, and all information provided on this site is for entertainment and informational purposes only. Although I have done my best to provide accurate, up-to-date information, from time to time, you may find mistakes. Halfnhalf-life.com makes no claims to the accuracy, completeness, currentness, suitability, or validity of the information provided and will not be held liable for any errors, omissions, or delays in this information or any losses, injuries, or damages arising from usage of the content contained. All information is provided on an as-is basis. Articles that appear on this website that were originally written for publication on other online publications are linked to their original sites of publication.