Sprechen sie Englisch? Bitte?

Too bad my brain doesn't have a "Google Translate" feature for every language! It would have come in handy this week.

For the past week, I was taking some (in my opinion) much-earned vacation time...a little R & R after 9 months of intensive language study. A friend and I headed over to Berlin (Germany) for 5 fun-filled days. Too bad the sun decided not to come along with us! :(

Spending a week in Berlin gave me a chance to be a tourist...a time to learn...a time to connect with friends, both old and new...and a time to enjoy STEAK (hey, it was vacation - I splurged!). :)

One of the remaining sections of the Wall

I have been to numerous places within Germany, but never Berlin. What a fascinating city! There is so much history there...and in many ways, it gave me greater insight into what life was like under Communism...and how that had an impact on Czech culture. I wish I had more time to simply take it all in. 


It was great to get away for a few days, but I have to be honest, pulling back into the main train station in Prague, my first thought was, "it's so good to be home!" (This was followed closely by "I'll be able to read the menus again!") :) 


Jeanette, thanks again for coming to visit me in Prague and traveling with me to Germany. It was great to be able to show you around my city and to introduce you to people at church and to simply enjoy your company. Thanks for putting up with my crazy ideas and for walking a bit out of our way at times just because we didn't know where we were going. It's all about the adventure, right?! :)  

The only picture of the two of us on my camera...at the Prague Castle. :)

The twists and turns of life

Sometimes things happen in life that you didn’t expect. Or, maybe I should say many times in life, things happen that you don’t expect. At least in my life.

I had another one of those twists this week.

For the past nine months, I have been attending intensive Czech language courses…as in Monday through Friday for 5 hours a day…of Czech. And, yes, that’s mostly grammar, with a little bit of listening, writing and speaking exercises mixed in.

While I have a LONG, LONG way to go before becoming fluent, I have definitely made progress. I am beginning to understand more when people speak to me and I’m able to get my point across (at least to some degree). I was feeling pretty good about myself…until this week.

Last week, I took the written part of my final exam. It consisted of reading, listening, grammar and writing. Each section was worth 20 points (the final 20 points was the oral part that I would take this week). The written part went well. I ended up getting a 65/80.

Going into the oral exam, I was pretty confident that it would go okay as well because I have been told by numerous Czechs that I would be fine…that I am able to get my point across and be understood.

Maybe I shouldn’t have been so confident.  

I found out after the exam that I only scored a 9 out of 20. Ouch. I’ll admit; I was quite frustrated. And the emotions took over for a while…I began to wonder why I was here…if I’d ever be able to learn this language…why I even attempted it…and if I was simply fooling myself into believing I could communicate. Were people just being gracious with me and I really wasn’t making sense when I talked? 

I’m glad to say that the emotions died down and I was able to see the truth once again. This test does not define me. And, it doesn’t determine if I’m able to speak the language. It doesn’t change the fact that I am called to this country and that I want to learn to speak Czech.

What the enemy intended for evil, the Lord has used for good. Instead of doubting myself and my calling, I am believing in God’s goodness and seeing how His hand is orchestrating events. Because of this turn of events, I am now getting together with more Czech friends to practice with. Isn’t God good?!

Oh, and the amusing thing in all this…I think my teacher is taking it harder than I am (she wasn’t the one who gave me the oral test). She kept saying how ridiculous it is that I didn’t pass because she knows I can speak Czech. At least I can walk forward knowing at least one person at the school believes in me! J

And now that school is done…I’ll have LOTS of time to practice my Czech! J