apparently

i live in ostrava

(we got to come before our visas did. some quirks to work out... but mostly - we're fine for now. thank Jesus)

woohoooo!! i'm trying to think of the most lovely things to disclose -- bc there is so much to disclose - there are so many good things to tell... but i will tire of writing them - so let me pick a few. our flat is PHENOM. walked in to a little dust - ok - a lot of dust and a lot of white walls and a closet full of things - sheets, mason jars, etc. which are now all over our walls and floors and the flat is LOVELY even on the cute side of things. we have amazing views from all of our amazing windows. one of the greatest things about our complex is the slide we have at the bottom. once you walk down like 16 flights of stairs and out the exit leading to the bus stop - there are slides. i guess in real adult world - they are wheelchair ramps or something - but in gina/ lydia world they are delightful slides that spawn spurts and bursts of giggles.

shamrock (premeck) has been the kindest person ever in showing us around and speaking in english and teaching us the ways of ostrava. 

adam - our boss is a rockstar. truth. we went to a concert last night and enjoyed locals dancing, ostravar, and "funky, latina, ecstatic" music :) kulicky stesti. youtube it and love life and humanity bc of this  . the title of his band means "little bolt of happiness" which might be the greatest band name i have eeeeever heard.

everything we hear is delightful. everyone says they come with the intention to stay one year and stay more - the brit we met today came for one and has stayed 10 and married hanka - a czech woman. we'll see what happens. i fully intend to spend a delightful year here and could see me back here or back in the states. i have not been so joyful in so freaking long. i laugh harder than ever. all the time. allll the time.

i pray often thanking jesus for this city and for my life and for the experience that is happening and will continue to experience this year. i mean really - who else HAS to go to prague for business meetings? bc i do . my dad has to go to like lakeland. i have to go to prague :)

the things i heard and knew about czech before i came included that they were sad and oppressed - obviously - and lacking faith and hope. so my prayer all along has been that we will bring a hope and joy like they have never experienced and i completely feel joy welled up inside of me like crazy. i pray that it doesn't go away the whole time i am here. i believe God is big enough to sustain that. who says we have to fail just bc everything is so new? failing isn't always necessary. so you can pray that me and gina continue to giggle our way through problems and mess-ups. and that we continue to feel peace and joy and contentment. that's all for now. this is too long 

why isn't stuff weightless

last night slovakia left. tonight, hungary departs. 4 hours from now. i'm supposed to depart with bean in 24 hours. not happening. there is a lack of dedication to completing visa processes at the czech consulate in LA and i therefore will be living in cali for a bit. slightly disappointed. feeling fine about it if it's only a week or two. past that - terrifying thoughts of lots of emotional, mental, physical preparation falling sliding down the drain due to being in a weird state of limbo.

however - still have an overwhelming sense of peace and security - being aware that this is just a small thread in a much bigger story and picture. individual lives are really not that big of a deal in the scheme of things - so there is no need for worry and discouragement when the world turns in a way i didn't expect or desire. the world will turn regardless... so i'm just going w/ the rotation currently

no cracks

so me and gina like to play this game when walking (bc we walk everywhere here)... bc walking in itself can get a little old and boring - this game is called - don't step on the cracks... so basically, you just walk in a way so that you don't step on the sidewalk cracks. one step in each block, 2 steps, 3 steps, etc - each one is more intense in it's own way.

however - if you have to much energy... you will fail. which is what frank did. 2 step 2 step 2 step. fail. he burst onto the pavement - catapulted if you will - skidded - and jumped right back up. to which me and bean fell down with laughter. that was one of the high points of this weekend. (and in this post - i would like to shout out to twiggy, whom i love dearly)

3 weeks in and lovely

in 2 days, i will have been gone for 3 weeks. at first i was a little worried about coming to cali early, wondering if i would regret it and want more time in orlando -- nope - being with my sister and aidan and ben and co. (bc he has 84 roomates) was uber refreshing and fun. 

training started july 19 - on a saturday. our typical schedule is this... 730am - 930pm... breakfast, lunch and dinner, sessions on how to teach english, sessions on how to teach better in our region, sessions on how to cope with living overseas, sessions on language and culture, prep time to teach and then teaching each night to native non-english speakers. yes. very full days. very challenging. very long. very mentally focused. but very good.

i am more confident and content with my life than i have been in a long time. the people i'm going with are fun and full of big dreams and a mindset like mine. it's fun to be learning totally new things. it's fun to be challenged again. teaching is a blast and a good outlet to make language creative. 

i have no complaints. the language is ridiculous and hard, but also - fun. i am laughing to the point of tears almost daily.

pray for mental stamina and excitement to continue