Busy Bees, Frisbee, Mummies, Ribbons, and Visitors

Our theme this year for third grade is to be busy like a bee.  

The Bible has much to say about being diligent 

and working hard, just like bees do!

Not only will we strive to work hard for the Lord in our school work, but we also want to "bee" kind, respectful, a servant, and slow to speak and quick to listen!

My students were so sweet on the first day of school!
They brought me flowers and a delicious apple!

CISP family picnic to kick off the school year

Ultimate frisbee- Staff vs. Students!!!
(We won, of course! But, to be fair, it was a very close game!)

The Chicken Mummy 

Meet Bob, the chicken

First, we washed him and put spices on him.  

Then, we poured salt all over him and dried him out for several weeks.

After the embalming process was complete, we rubbed oil over him
and wrapped him with cloth strips.

Finally, we decorated his sarcophagus.

Ta-da! Bob the Chicken has been successfully mummified!

Making Egyptian collars and charm bracelets

Egyptian government pyramid:
Pharaoh, vizier, noble, priest, scribe, soldier, craftsman, farmer, slave

Egyptian party!

Welcome to the grand opening of CISP!!

Preston Pearce, the chairman of our school board,
welcomed everyone to the ceremony.

Our high school choir performed a beautiful a capella piece
called "The Stone That the Builders Rejected."

The middle school choir joined the high school to sing "Let Us Adore."

Our director, Leslie Johnson, gave a brief history of CISP's
journey over the past ten years from its beginning to where it is today.

The director of Prague's Teen Challenge program gave a testimony about how CISP students have volunteered at Teen Challenge and made an impact on Roma youth there.

The Prague 2 mayor also gave a brief speech during the ceremony.

A high school student shared a poem he wrote.

This CISP parent shared about her family's experience with CISP.
I taught her oldest daughter last year, and her youngest daughter is in my class this year!

Students, teachers, parents, officials, and other attendees lined the stairs to watch the ribbon cutting.

Our director and the Prague 2 mayor cut the ribbon together.

Click to watch a video of the ribbon cutting!

Time to celebrate!!

 Prague meets my parents...

Vltava River with the Prague Castle in the background

My Czech friend Alis works as a tour guide occasionally,
so she graciously offered to take us on a tour around Prague!

Old Town Square

On a delightful fall hike beside Karlstejn Castle

  

My Czech friends Vaclav and Veronika invited us over for a delicious Czech meal!

We saw an absolutely incredible performance
by the Czech Philharmonic Symphony.

On our way to a quaint tourist town called Cesky Kromlov

We stayed an amazing hostel called the Krumlov House.

While walking around the river,
we happened to catch the national kayak and canoe race.

The bright fall leaves made the scenery absolutely stunning!

 I'm so thankful for the beautiful weather God gave us and for His continual grace in situations where my amateur planning and tour guiding fell short!  

Laundromat Serenade

I posted this video as a link for those who received my September/October newsletter.  If you don't currently receive my monthly updates and would like to, just shoot me an email at annika.harmeling@teachbeyond.org and I would love to add you! 

So this is a small taste of everyday occurrences in Prague.  I'm not really surprised by anything unusual I see here anymore, though, I was intrigued as to why this little group placed themselves on a normal sidewalk where very few people would walk by, much less stop to listen to them... 

For those I couldn't share with this summer...

I am so thankful for the many opportunities I had this summer to share with so many friends and family members!  For those who did not get to see the video and powerpoint I made of this past year, this post is for you!  (Or for those who just want to see it again!)  I realize some of these pictures are repeats, but a good review never hurt anyone. Yes, that is the voice of a teacher :)

Compilation of several videos, just to give you a taste of CISP...

Here are some pictures from the powerpoint I made, just to give you an overview of life in Prague...

CISP

Old school building

My old classroom

                                     

New school building!

Pictures of new classroom to come!

CISP staff 2012-2013 at International Christian Educators Conference in Germany

Miss Harmeling's 5th Grade Class

Shamima, Margherita, Seung Hyun, Josiah, and Luke (and Flat Stanley and Herbert the snake)

Cereal box book reports :)

Elementary chapel in the 6th grade room

Playing worship songs together at a piano recital

Leading music in chapel

Daily Life in Prague

Scenery

View from my apartment window on a rare sunny day!

Also near my apartment, but shows a more accurate picture of what Prague skies typically looked like this past year

Charles Bridge over Vltava River

Can you spot the Prague Castle in the back?

Hiking in Czech Switzerland

After hiking/running at least 15 miles to get to Trosky in Cesky Raj
I have never been so glad to see a castle in all my life!

Food

Svíčková (sveech-co-vah)-
pork in cream sauce, with dumplings and cranberry sauce

Roast duck, dumplings, and cabbage

Španělský ptáček (shpah-nel-skee pta-chek)- Literally "Spanish bird"
Beef stuffed with eggs and relish, with gravy, dumplings and cranberry sauce
Are you noticing a pattern? :)

Shopping

Most of my grocery shopping is done at Albert,
which is a small grocery store chain in Prague.
There is an Albert about a block from my apartment
and another one is located a few blocks from CISP.

Closest thing to Walmart in Prague

I don't often frequent places like Tesco or IKEA
because I have to carry everything home on public transportation!

Faith Community Church

On nice days, we like to hang out in front
of the building before church begins

At my friend Christina's bday party,
who happens to have the same exact bday as me!!
Many friends from my church came to her party,
and as you can see, they are from all over the world!

Singing and playing piano with the worship team was such a delight and privilege this past year!


Friends

Becca is a very close friend from CISP

Through, Becca, I met Anicka at an English club
for Czech high school students

TeachBeyond friends at the ICEC conference in Germany

Jane and I met through our partnership with a Christian Czech school in Prague

My lovely roommate, Kim, teaches 6th grade at CISP

Sadly, my roommate, Kristin (on left), will not be returning to Prague this fall,
so Lindsay (on right) will be rooming with Kim and I.

I met Ellen at a bible study through
Faith Community, and we were fast friends.
We had lots of adventures together: cross-country skiing, English "lessons" with Czech friends (mostly just fun hangouts!), an airshow,  miles of hiking in the Czech Republic, and exploring the city of Prague.
I'm so thankful the Lord gave me a friend like Ellen to share life with this past year!

Ellen invited me to go skiing with her Czech student, Vaclav, and his colleagues.

After our skiing trip, I got to know Vaclav's wife,
Veronika, and their son, Andrew.
I had the great privilege to eat dinner with this family and Ellen each Wednesday, and I look forward to continuing this tradition
when I return to Prague!

God has blessed me with many more friends in Prague, though I don't have pictures of each one.  However, I am looking forward to pictures and memories we will have in the future!

As you can see, God has been so gracious to provide friends, community, and opportunities to serve Him and make Him known in Prague.  I am overwhelmed by His grace and love, which has no limits.  As I reflect on this year, I think Psalm 108:4-5 puts it best:

"I will give thanks to you, O Lord, among the peoples;  

I will sing praises to you among the nations.

For your steadfast love is great above the heavens; 

your faithfulness reaches to the clouds."