day 94

Today is a special czech holday.. we still have to go school, but its very cool!! Its called Míkulaš.

Míkulaš comes around during the night and leaves children chocolat and sweets if they have been good and coal if they have been bad.. (traditionaly the kids recieved walnuts, apples and a mandarin.. but times have changed)

It was super cute.. at school .. the Action Team... put up papers in the staff room for the teachers to sign the names of all of the bad kids in their class.. and then when a group of students who dressed up as the characters of Míkulaš came around to the classes, instead of giving the bad ones candies as they gave everyone else.. they sent the "bad" ones to the hall where they put them in a burlap sack and cover their faces with coal.. As the two demons of Míkulaš are outside with the bad ones.. their are two angels inside giving us candies.. and Míkulaš (who is a bishup) recites something.. traditional... once everyone is back in the class.. the demon come arounf to all the good ones and give us all a smudge of coal on our cheeks to remind us of our sins and that no one is perfect.. It was great fun.. i Knew all of the characters.. since moist of them were from my class.. and it was cool to see a new tradition!

That night Grandma and grandpa came over bringing us (the children) some sweets and an advant calandar :) The family assumed they would come a bit later then they did and i was the only one home when they arrived.. I tried my best to be polite and entertain the,. .(did i mention that neither of them speak a word of english and that my czech is still terrible... as it turns out i am terrible with languages...) but the grandma is super sweet and we had small talk over a few cups of tea.. The family came home and I left for the gym.. lol.. i thought that it was terribly ironic that i was going to the gym on a holiday which celebrated eating lots of sweets.... :) Roman and I had a great time at the gym.. but I think my bottom will be sore for days.. i was on the mobil bike for about an hour.. i dunno just felt like it... but there was a definite lack of cishion....

("just one minute to catch our breath" lol... )

When I came home the Richtars were over, also bringing good tidings from Míkulaš. We chatted for a bit then I went upstairs to pack for tomorrow.. I leave for Poland at 6.... :(

Dobrou Noc

Anička