Czech in --> January - March

From January to March

So here is what has been happening since January.

Back to School

In January after our unexpected extended Christmas break (due to quarantine my students were out of the classroom as of  8 December) only grade ones and twos could return to the classroom. We had to wear masks the whole time except when eating but we tried to carry on as much as normal.

Many have asked what it has been like teaching this year and I will have to admit that is has been one of my most challenging years yet. Teaching kids with masks on is horrible. It was like teaching a bunch of bumble bees as the buzzing never stopped. It is the concept that you can't see my mouth so you can't hear what is coming out of it! Not being able to see faces and read facial cues is so hard! Fortunately most of the time I could get away with wearing a face shield when I was distanced from the children and they could see my full face. My students didn't have this luxury as face shields in their size were not available. But despite the challenges we soldier on.

 

Even our puppet friends abide by the mask rules

February

We got hit by the polar vortex at the end of January and beginning of February and got to enjoy some beautiful snow!

 

 

Happy 100 Day!

Although we were all alone in the building we celebrated the 100th day of school with flare. We hid 100 zeros throughout the building and went on a zero hunt to build ourselves a googol (a 1 with a 100 zeros). 

 

What we will look like when we are 100

Winter Break

With restrictions in place going anywhere for our breaks currently is out of the question. So we explored the joys that the city of Prague has to offer. 

One of the neat things about Prague is their dedication to green spaces within the city. There are a number of large parks and even forests that are within the city limits that we can get to easily by a short bus ride.

This forest is behind a mall about 20 minutes from where I live. I got to adventure out there with some friends before we went into full lockdown.

Mitten trees were common along our trail; where lost gloves and mittens are poked onto branches in hopes that they will be retrieved by their owners at a later date.

 Wheel of Covid

Things are in constant change these days and so just when I am about to do a post everything changes and I am caught on the spinning wheel of Covid. My friends and I have a theory that decisions about restrictions and what stays open and what closes are put on a wheel and that wheel is spun to determine what restrictions we have to follow that month

Covid cases in Czech Republic are climbing and in response came the increase of restrictions. Starting with curfews of being home between 9pm and 5am. Moving to restrictions of only being allowed to wear respirator masks on transit and in stores (no more cloth masks allowed).

On March 1st our strictest measures went into place when a new State of Emergency was declared, where all schools closed including pre-schools. So back to online learning we go. People are confined to their districts unless they have written permission to go outside their village or district. Thankfully Prague is considered one district so we are allowed to move within the Prague districts, but no leaving the city unless for work or an emergency. Lock-down is in full effect. 

The feelings about Covid from our students and families are strong and heart breaking. There have been many tears and our constant prayer request at the top of the list every day is that God would make Covid go away!

We take comfort in that God is on his throne and he is in control!

Please be praying for us as we go through this new version of lock-down.

Currently my only in person human interactions this week have been with the Tesco delivery guy and an old man who waved at me from the street when I was sitting in my window today. I am a people person and being confined to my home for long periods of time is very challenging. I am thankful for the internet and facetime and the ability to communicate with friends and family over long distances by the touch of a button.

We have been learning about the Lord's prayer this week and the kids shared what was their favourite part of the verses. The responses were so encouraging as they shared how much they liked that God is wonderful and powerful and that he forgives us and gives us what we need.

God is doing great things even amongst the sadness and stress that a pandemic brings.

Another assignment from our chapel talks had students share what they were grateful or thankful for our list included:

1. family

2. friends

3. food

4. pets

5. playdates

6. homes

7. air

8. for toys to play with while in quarantine

9. plants

10. Being at home with my family

11. suggles

12. pancakes

13. my lego set

14. books

15. playing with my sister and my brother

16. 3D puzzles

17. Miss Robinson

18. My mom and dad

19. My fish, my dog, my cat

20. God

We are thankful for a God that hears our prayers and comforts our hearts.

Thank you for your prayers as we go through this difficult time. 

Christmas is Here

On the Twelfth day of Quarantine...

In October we went into our second wave of lockdown and all schooling went to online. Online teaching has been an adventure but I was thrilled when we got to go back into the classroom at the end of November. It started slowly with only primary grades one and two. But by the first week of December all of our elementary were back in the school building. Face masks were mandatory but we soldiered through. 

Yet, our time in the classroom came to an abrupt end when we had a student's family test positive for Covid-19 and we were all put into quarantine. I didn't have any time to prepare as we got the call to stay at home late in the evening. So back to online learning for the last two weeks of school.

I missed not doing the normal Christmas festivities. Ornament making, and Christmas parties and Christmas programs.

I had to be creative with out Christmas performance of the Christmas story from Luke 2 as we never got a chance to recite it together. The students recorded their reciting of their verses and I stitched them together with pictures they illustrated the day before we went into quarantine.

Our high school choir also did two recordings.

Covid-19 at Christmas

This Christmas the pandemic has brought many changes. One of the saddest for me was no Christmas markets. The squares are bare asides from the lone Christmas tree and nativity.

Traditionally I join some friends for our annual day trip to Germany to enjoy the Christmas Markets. Alas this year markets are a no go. However, lack of Christmas markets did not slow our cheer or stop us from enjoying our Christmas market traditions. We still froze our toes and noses and hit up the farmer's markets that were happening, picked us up some sausage and smoked cheese and enjoyed our market treats from the comfort of home. Not exactly the same but we put on some Czech Christmas carols and made the best of it.

Covid-19 restrictions are a roller coaster and we are convinced that decisions are made by the spinning of the Wheel-of-Covid to decide what restrictions will be in place this week.

Rat-a-tat-tat-tat-tat.... this week restaurants will close but large grocery stores and malls will stay open. You can still get delivery from the window and eat it near the establishment, as long as you aren't around people who don't already live in your home.

I will be spending Christmas with friends who are my adopted family here. 

Even though things look very different this year we will not lose sight of the reason we gather together and celebrate, the birth of our Saviour. Thankful we have the opportunity to spread the good news!