dear readers,
yet again i start another blog entry with shame. in some ways, that could be a theme for this year... i used to think i was healthy, active, dedicated, hard working, motivated, but this year i've discovered i have a strong chords of slothfulness and gluttony in my being, as well as a big (sometimes overwhelming) appetite for fun. i forget that there is so much deep joy in consistency, rhythm and hard work. i had every intention to write at least once a week... but the trend seems to be more like once a month. and i had every intention of reading a million books, all of the ones i never had time for, but i've barely conquered even half of the list. and let's not get started on my running plan, my big dreams for lessons, learning a second and third language... i feel so shameful about my unfulfilled promises. but as always, i have to see the silver lining: this has been one year where i was not ruled by "shoulds" and "oughts." rather, i allowed myself to simply be... even if that being was a bit lazy and consumed by wanderlust. it was good and (i think) quite necessary for me. but i'm turning a new page. not because i think i should, but because i really think it is time. which brings me to my news: i won't be turning a new page back in the US; rather, i'll be spending one more year here in slovakia.
this year has been the most amazing year of my life. despite my shame of unfulfilled promises, i've experienced unreal things. i can say that i've seen so many beautiful and breathtaking places, but the most important things i've experienced are those through my relationships here. my relationships with my friends, my co-workers, and my students. never in my life have i experienced so many relationship which simultaneously support and challenge me. while these relationships are important in all phases in life, i feel they are especially poignant in my current phase. and i am deeply thankful for them. they are one reason that i want to stay. i want to maintain and deepen these relationships.
another reason is simply consistency. it has taken me an almost full nine months to get my head on straight here. finally i feel the rhythm of this place, of my school... in some ways i'm starting to "get it." it's becoming my life, and not simply a place i'm staying. it feels unnatural to uproot, start someplace new for one year, and then move again to (hopefully) go to grad school. not only unnatural, but tiring. and when i think about my students, i know that i could be a far better teacher to them next year after all of the lessons i learned this past year.
this all being said: i'm staying next year. i'll be moving to a different flat and living with a friend, as well as earning about half of what i earned this year. but i'm so excited about this decision. it was a hard one to make, but it feels so right. i'll be home in july and august, so i hope to see some of you then.
moving on: i need to update you on the past month. of course, i'll spare you any unnecessary details. about two weeks ago i met the french ambassador to slovakia at a vernissage of some man's french art collection. it was a perfect evening. the gallery was beautiful, i was with nearly all of my friends from kosice, and i was able to dress in my finest. free french wine, good conversation, beautiful art... what else could a girl ask for?
the next morning i left to budapest to see katie. she arrived and we stayed in budapest for two days, and we saw nearly everything. the baths, the chain bridge, the castle, parliament... we even had time to meet my friend antonio and his family for a short lunch and hike up to the citadel. after budapest we came back to slovakia for a day and had a nice picnic overlooking the city with my friends olivier and ludwig. then that evening we took the overnight train to prague. and again, it seems we saw everything in the two short days we were there. it was gorgeous. the weather was perfect, and the company was even more perfect. we came back, on another night train, and went to my lessons the next morning. we spent the rest of the day and the next day just enjoying our time together. when she left, i truly felt like someone had ripped out half of my heart. it was the most perfect week and it reminded me how much i like my sister.
after katie left, i went to the high tatras with my friend vesna and her family, as well as some of their friends. it was so good to be taken care of my women who weren't happy unless i had food in my mouth and drinks in my hand. we were able to do some short hiking, but mostly we just rested and ate. i could not complain.
and mostly, i think, that brings us up to speed. thursday night started the world championship in hockey here in slovakia. since bratislava and kosice are the only cities in slovakia hosting matches, kosice is a-buzz with action, energy, people, food... thursday night there was a big opening ceremony. i was surprised at how well it was done, i didn't realize kosice had it in himself to put on a show. but it seems i am being proved otherwise. tonight i will watch a match between usa and austria. there's no question who'll win, right? and then after the match i am going to meet my friend will and some of his friends. i met will in moldova and we were so close for that summer. he's now living in slovenia and is driving up with a few friends for the weekend. i can't wait.
in the next months i am hoping for some good hiking and a strong end to the school year. the weather is gorgeous and i want to take full advantage of it. unfortunately, i also have to start seriously thinking about grad schools and to start scheming about how to trick a school into actually accepting me... wish me luck. i think i'll need it...
so i hope to write more consistently in the next few weeks. but, as you've seen, i can't promise anything at the moment.
lovingly,
anna
