I can't believe I've been in Czech land for over a week already. My first day of traveling landed me in Prague at the airport at 9pm and picked up by some fellow Wattsenglish co-worker who brought me to a hostel there. I was expecting to go to Liberec and stay with the host couple for the night, but my manager/trainer was sick and unable to pick me up and drive me there. I was slightly disoriented upon the news, but, after making sure everyone knew what was going on, I was quite relieved to spend a night alone. I was hungry and wanted to get dinner, but too tired to move. I woke up the next morning needing to get some money out in the correct currency and super hungry! I was able to locate an ATM and was told that I could eat at a casino hotel buffet for free when I asked where the nearest breakfast place was...delicious meal! Then, I was able to get a towel to use from the woman at the hostel for free after paying my bill and took a shower. I really may be one of the most fortunate people I know. I met up with Misa, my new co-worker/trainer after lunch, and a few other co-workers drove us back to Liberec where I finally met my amazing hostess, another Misa but with Blonde hair. Pavel, her husband, was working the overnight shift at the hospital, but we talked for hours over dinner and had some of the wine that I brought them from Moldova until it was time for bed. Since then, I have met so many new people and experienced a lot. Pavel, (blonde) Misa's spouse and my other host for the time, has a very good level of understanding and speaking in English. The two of them have been so helpful getting me oriented in this city, introducing me to their friends at a birthday party, making me food and tea, etc. Very good company. At the birthday party last Thursday night, I met a nice couple with a guy who was going on a rafting trip down a river in Czech and he invited me to go with him and his friends. I decided that it was a great idea, and (after volunteering for the second consecutive day at an English summer camp with two of my new co-workers) we met up the next day. Franticek's friends were so nice and spoke a decent amount of English with me as I struggled to understand Czech. The trip overall was beautiful and hilarious as it was calmer water than I expected with more liquids going into our bodies than under our rafts...For those of you who don't know (as I did not), I think your liver gets a better workout than your shoulders on these trips. The group was very nice and respectful, luckily, and it was a phenomenal way to spend the weekend. I did have one bad encounter with some plant that made my legs burn and now itch over 24 hours later, but overall the trip left a more positive impression on me. The group invited me to go rock climbing with them in late September, but I said no because I think I'll be teaching...that may not be the case, but we'll see. I met my boss Marketa today, and I love her! She is straight forward and full of energy. Tomorrow I meet another co-worker Eliska and plan lessons for next week's English golf camp with Tereza and go camping on a mountain with Pavel in the evening. We have an American band's concert to attend with some now mutual friends on Wednesday evening as well... My days are packed and I haven't even officially started work yet....I need sleep.
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