Merry Christmas

Last year we had an extensive post about what a typical Czech Christmas looks like, so this year I'm not going to say much about it in fear of being repetative. However I would like to share with you what the month of December has felt like.

The first two weeks of the month were as usual: classes, meetings, and preparing for the upcoming events (Pokec, Christmas play, and the living nativity). However, it didn't really feel like Christmas was approaching. Then it started to snow :) It is really unbelievable how different a little snow can make a place feel. All of a sudden it looked like Decemeber, however, this did not mean Christmas; only that our family would be arriving soon.

Once I learned that our family would be coming to visit I made a countdown chain. Seventy-six days marked the start of the chain, but once it got into December it had gotten much shorter. December first marked day 26 until the arrival of my mom and day 30 for when Jeremy's mom and brother would arrive. Two weeks later, at a one of my English class Christmas parties, someone mentioned that there were only 8 days until Christmas. I was surprised, only 8 days?! But then I remembered that there were only 10 days until my mom would be here, so it made sense.

December 20th (Sunday) we got our Christmas tree, and this is when it felt like Christmas was near. Jeremy carried it home and nailed a stand on the bottom and there it was, our christmas tree. Of course I couldn't wait to decorate it, even though we had to clean our house. So while Jeremy was cleaning the hall and bathroom (and thinking I was cleaning the kitchen and living room...) I joyfully decorated our tree.

It's funny how happy this little tree makes me. I don't really care about the presents that are under it, only the memories it brings. Looking at it now I remember every Christmas eve waiting for our tradition to start (I suppose part of the tradition was the waiting itself.) After lunch we would take a shower and get ready for church. On the way to church we would listen to Christmas songs on the radio and look at the the lights on the houses we pasted. This was a special night for me, not only because we celebrated the birth of Jesus, but because it was a time when my whole family would go to church together-- this of course caused some minor conflicts regarding who got to sit next to Dad. After church we would go to my grandparents house for dinner. This was a fun time because all my cousins and aunts and uncles from my mom's side of the family would be there. We kids would eat our dinners as fast as we could so we could open presents, however we would always have to wait for the "grown-ups" to have coffee and a little chat with each other. My grandfather was notorious for giving us little tasks to make us wait longer (like telling us to stand on our head and spit wooden nickels...whatever that meant). And after rearranging my grandma's ceramic NOEL several times(LEON,NOLE,LONE)and pestering our parents to death, we could finally open our presents.

Christmas day (December 25) was what every kids waited for. We would wake our parents up at 6am and drag them downstairs to open presents (of course when my bother and I were older, it was our parents who woke us up at 9 or 10). This summer I watched some old home videos from Christmas and it's so funny how excited we were about all the presents. There is one video where my brother is standing by the tree with big eyes whispering "wow" over and over again. After opening our presents, eating breakfast and putting our nice clothing back on, we would go to see my Dad's side of the family. Each year Christmas was at a different house, but everyone was there so it didn't matter. I rememeber really liking Christmas at my cousins Matthew and Jonathan's house because there was a big playroom downstairs away from the grownups where we could do whatever we wanted.

So for me Christmas ment seeing my whole family within two days, which is probably one of the reasons that we are looking forward to seeing our moms so much.

Reflection

Christmas arrived quicker than I expected. There wasn't really much of a build-up to the holiday this year, as there was last year. I'm sure some of the reason for this is because I am really looking forward to the weeks AFTER the holiday, as that marks the time when both my mom and brother, and Jamie's mom will be in Policka visiting.

Many times throughout the weeks, I find myself in thought and reflection about the upcoming seven months. Some days, I am ready to leave; I think that I've spent too much time away from home, and my job is becoming way too monotonous. However, there are those times-- and there are plenty-- when I am in the company of friends, maybe in pub or in a living room, where we are speaking Czech, laughing, sharing stories and even reminiscing about our first impressions of each other. When I think back to last year and all the work and study that went into understanding the Czech culture, language and way of life, I am left with a sense of accomplishment for what Jamie and I have been able to do in only 18 months. Yet, just when I feel that I have finally gotten comfortable in my life setting, I am reminded that I must leave and that all is fleeting, to a degree.

Last week, I looked through old pictures of the Policka congregation. I saw so many faces that were familiar, albeit, a little younger and less creased. The pictures were of youth retreats in Slovakia; Sunday trips to small, Moravian villages; and Christmas plays acted out 10 years ago. Jamie and I have only been a part of this congregation for a year and a half; we are just a small marker in the time line of Policka's history. Those in the church will be here long after we have left.

When Jamie and I leave, I'm sure that it will be very difficult for us and for those we have grown close to. Usually, when most people have lived through and experienced life together, there is a tendency to make large 'promises' and assurances that one day, in the far future, "We will see each other again." I don't want to do that. The cold-hard reality of our situation here is that we very well might not see many of our Czech friends again. Yes, we will speak through skype and email, every once and a while, but the day-to-day interaction of laughing, talking, being vulnerable and sharing ideas will not be as easy as it is here. I guess, there will come a time when my feelings for Policka, and the Czechs, will slowly, but surely, weaken into a memory from my 'younger years'.

I am often left wondering about what I will take from these two years in Policka. I remember that when my parents or friends would travel, they would bring back with them some kind of trinket, or clothing from an exotic local; however, they were usually only there for a few months, maximum. Yes, I could take a few pictures and traditional Czech mementos that remind of the country, but I want something more cerebral, more long-lasting; I want Policka to be woven into the fabric of who I am, even when the experiences here become blurry and vague. Of course, I could take the mindset that has been gained and some of the habits that I've become accustomed to, but those usually fall by the wayside, when the pulse of living, back at home, makes holding onto the newly-acquired lifestyle futile and frustrating (also, I'm not so sure some of the habits here are very good--lack of common courtesy being one). I don't really know what it is yet that I'm going to bring back, but I hope that it is the language; even though, that will be hard to maintain once I leave the border. I also want to always keep American 'cultural wars' in perspective in relation to the world.
It should be interesting...

I don't know, maybe all I'll have left from Policka is the appreciation of a good beer and a lovely, red wine, and I guess that would be okay in my book as well.

Sorry for the vagueness of this post; I feel like most of the time I'm talking around the 'real' idea, which I believe is a consequence of not fully comprehending what exactly is in store for me this summer, and what has happened to me in Policka.

Fourth Sunday of Advent

The fourth Sunday of Advent has arrived, which means Christmas is just around the corner. To celebrate the coming of Christ, every year there is a Christmas play. However, this year was a little bit different. Instead of one play, we had three!

The first play was a poem by three sheep, who were played by the youngest children from the church. They were the sheep (baa baa baa) in the feild who saw the angels rejoicing and bright star that guided the wise men. The second was a play about angels going to school and learning about important humans (Adam and Eve, Abraham, and Mary), which was preformed by the sunday school class. And the final play was preformed by the youth group. It was about a conferance of God's angels talking about humans. The discussion was about how humans can't seem to do what is right (they fall into Satan's temptations). After studying man kind and presenting their results, the angels can to the conclusion that there was not one human that was without sin, and God would have to send someone intellegent, strong and handsom to help the humans out. The conferance ended with the angel Gabriel surprising the other angels when he said the savior had already arrived on earth; a child born in a manger in Bethlehem

Islam in Europe

There has recently been a lot of talk -- in the Czech Republic and around Europe -- about the rising flux of Islamic immigrants. Most of the public discourse revolves around the problems that arise when Muslim immigrants are reluctant to accept the cultural and civic expectations of their newly adopted nation. In the Czech Republic, the issue is not quite as pertinent, but in places like England, France and Holland, it is very real and serious. England has, I think, the most immigrants who are practitioners of Islam: Most of them coming from Pakistan. Great Britain as a whole has seen a rise in immigration since the 1970s, and now Muslims make up close to five percent of the total population. Most recently the nation of Switzerland passed a referendum banning the construction of Minarets; claiming that Minarets would "change the national identity of the Swiss people." In most main-stream European papers, and Czech ones, the issue is talked about as a problem of immigration: The newly-arrived immigrants do not make any concessions, nor do they attempt to conform to the society; therefore, creating cultural and often civic 'ghettos' that are part, yet separate from the culture at large. Obviously, this issue is complicated and goes way beneath the veneer of 'immigration and assimilation'.

Easily, it can be seen as an issue of race and cultural superiority, but I don't really want to get into that discussion, because on some level, that is inevitable: if the language, religion, art and laws are not respected by a minority group, racism and animosity are a sad, but very human reaction (not that this is OK and acceptable). In many of my conversations with Czechs about the issue, there are levels of race and prejudice involved, but I'm surprised to say that much of the European distaste and worry has more to do with civic engagement, rights and laws: there is the feeling that the state, not the racial "nation", but the 'Nation-State" --built and supported by governments-- is losing its power. This comes into clearer focus when Sharia law is used as a clear 'second-tier' form of justice, much like in England, where all domestic and some criminal disputes are not settled in the British courts, but in hidden Sharia courts in the backrooms of Muslim community centers.

In conversing with some of my friends about this issue, many of them were quite strong in their opinion that the Islamic immigrants should accept the laws and the culture of the state (not necessarily all the culture traits of the people). I found this rational and reasonable, but I'm not so sure I'm comfortable with this argument. For one, as a Christian, I take issue with the point that the State, or the nation should define my role as a human being, and that even my religion should be viewed in relation to my role as a Western citizen. I can see both sides of the equation: the animosity of having immigrants who don't seem interested in conforming, or even respecting the culture of the state; and the conflict that arises between people of faith and their obligations to their religion and their country. I guess this issue in America can look a little like the dilemma that affects the Amish when they choose not to join the military...

I really can't go much further in this post, because I am not educated or well-read enough to create any kind of firm statements about this topic. What I can do is tell you that this is a conversation and debate not just about immigration and race, but a conversation about the role of Western society, the enlightenment and religion/faith. It is this third aspect that has me yearning for a deeper discourse.

Two years ago, Rev. Rowan Williams (The highest ranking bishop in the Church of England) gave a lecture where he spoke specifically about law and its relation to people of faith. In this lecture, Williams alludes to some of the Sharia courts in England. Williams, who I respect and admire greatly, stated that the British state, in some respects, should accept aspects of Sharia law. Naturally, every single tabloid, and second-spot news station took the statement and demonized him vehemently; even calling for his removal from the Anglican Church. I've read the lecture and found it to be very dense and almost incomprehensible (it is an intellectual 'doozy'). But I encourage you to take a clear and focused look at it.

I would like to talk more about this, so feel free to message or 'skype' me--Dave Mesing:)

Here is the link to Rev. Williams' speech: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/7233335.stm

Poem

Jamie and I have enrolled in a Czech Lanugage for foreigners class in Policka. There are two of us and three other Dutch people. It is a great time speaking Czech with foreigners, and seeing that I'm not the only one in Policka who can't seem to get my Czech grammar in order.

One of our recent assignments was to write a poem in Czech. The idea stemmed from the Dutch tradition of passing out poems to your closest family members to commemorate St. Nicholas day. Our Czech teacher thought it to be a wonderful tradition, so she told us to write poems; however, Jamie and I missed the whole point of writing poems 'about each other.' Since St. Nicholas day is this weekend, last night we were to read our poems in class.

Jamie and I both felt kind of silly, as none of our writing had to do with our fellow Dutch students, but we had a great time anyways.

For your enjoyment here are the two poems that we wrote:


Žaba, žaba (frog, frog)
malinká žába (little frog)
hop hop hop (hop hop hop)

a kam skáče ta malinká žába? (and where is the little frog hopping to?)
do obchodu? (to a shop?)
do školy? (to school?)
nevím, možná (I don't know, maybe)
do hospody! (to a pub!)

- Jamie


První rok s češtinou

Hle,

Jde to, jde to.
Ach, to je vedro.
Fakt jo?
Ach jo...

Pozdrav rodinu.
Všichni maji chřipku.
Doufám že mam jedníčku...

Česky? To je těžký.
Všechno nejlepší.
Mějte se hezky!

-Jeremy


My poem is a little more difficult to translate, because it doesn't make much coherent sense. I have entitled it 'My first year with Czech language." I wanted to write a poem that was a little satirical and a play on words. To do this, I went through my memory and picked out the most common phrases that I've heard in spoken Czech and put them together into a rhymn. Collectivley they make some sense, but the meaning is really only in my head and from my experience.

Our teacher thought they were great.

Velvet Revolution and remnants of Communism

I don't know if many of you know, but this week (Tuesday, Nov. 17th) marks the twentieth anniversary of the fall of Communism in the Czech Republic. Last week, I was able to watch the lights and glitter in Berlin, as the city commemorated the fall of the Berlin Wall. U2 was there and thousands of people, from all nations, flocked to the Brandenburg Gate to witness the spectacle and reminisce about the time when freedom was attained and borders were literally torn asunder. Fireworks blasted throughout the night, as Germans toasted to their unity. Expecting to see the same kind of reaction in Prague, I was shocked to discover that there will be no such celebration. There will be no parades. No fireworks. No public parties. No commemorative keys to be shook, or Czech flags to be waved. To the contrary, the celebration will be one of a personal nature; taking place within the homes, quietly out of sight. I guess it would be hard to call it a celebration at all.

It makes sense for a nation of just over 10 million to commemorate their 'Democratic Revolution' in such a quite way. After all, they suffered quietly. Germany has always been intriguing for the western world, and during the reign of totalitarian communism, it was split, straddling the Iron Curtain. The Czechs on the other hand, they are Slavic, so I guess it was only fitting that a Slavic nation would follow the 'Slavic mother', Russia. Yeah, to western eyes, it was unfortunate that the Czechoslovak nation, a former Democracy, was under the rule of Stalin, but they were always 'in the East'. The interest just wasn't there.

Still, my mind wonders, why don't Czechs take more pride in the fact that their 'Velvet Revolution' was a motivation to the whole world? It was completely non-violent. It was started by young students. It motivated the masses. And, it toppled an entrenched, oppressive governing body that lied and deceived its people. From the outside perspective, it was a revolution of "The Powerless" and should be commemorated as one of the greatest, human-rights triumphs of the 20th century. Yet, in the paper today, almost half of Czechs polled claimed to have 'no interest in commemorating, or celebrating the Revolution.' This, for me, is quite unfortunate.

This past weekend, a documentary was shown in Policka, entitled, "The Power of the Powerless." The film was American and it was not made for Czech viewing audiences. The film discussed the developments of the revolution and gave a historical overview of the nature of communist rule in Czechoslovakia. At the end, the documentarian began to criticize the Czech people (mainly the younger generations) for being infatuated with 'superficiality' and lacking any kind of 'rooted ideology'. He himself, a man who was witness to the Velvet Revolution of 1989, expressed shock and disbelief when he found that many young Czechs didn't even know that the Velvet revolution existed (almost unbelievable). He openly asked, "What is happening in Czech schools? What memories are they portraying in the society at large?"

In thinking a little more deeply about the fact that the Velvet Revolution here is met with an alarming level of apathy, I guess I must take quick glance and look at Western culture today. It seems to me that many Czechs are pretty fed up with their petty, often-bickering political leaders. In fact, just two weeks ago, there was an article in a newspaper, where the writer professed the necessity of a revolution every 20 years, to 'clean the system of the nation.' Also, I find that many in the older demographic are constantly fighting in a modern world that moves too quickly and is full of deception, tumult and violence. I think, that the reality and difficulty of building up a new western-style, capitalistic Democracy, from the rusted hulk of Socialism, has hit Czechs. Maybe they thought the transition would be easy and that life would automatically be 'better' from the get-go? In addition to the constant fluctuation of the market and the uncertainty of jobs, many Czechs feel bombarded with American pop culture, which is exported at an astounding rate. I've heard it described as "American Imperialism", which often gets me chuckling, if not annoyed. But, I guess there is something to be said here. If the people legitimately do feel threatened, be it from a cultural, monetary or emotional standpoint, then what is there to like about free-flowing, all-consuming capitalism of the Western world?-- which to many here is still viewed as an 'import'. In this light, maybe the Velvet Revolution looks a little negative: a group of naive students who managed to overthrow normalcy.

The last aspect I think of when pondering the memory of Czechs, is that some of them might not remember Communism as being that bad. After all, it was very clear from the start that the Communist Party had a clear message for the people of Czechoslovakia: "If you leave the business of government to us, we will leave you alone. You will prosper: you will have a car, a house, a job and enough money for your family." And, really, I think for most people, the fact that their intellectual, religious and civic freedoms were given up in a trade-off for security, was just a fact of life. If there was suffering, it was done behind closed doors, not on the street. And, just like that, Communism in Czechoslovakia became boring for many who lived it; slowly, but surely, the Communist machine manipulated information and re-focused the worldview of an entire nation. The waterfall was reached by incremental paddle strokes, not through fast-running, white-water. Maybe for some, the Communist promise of security still holds their mind captive? Just today, President Vaclav Klaus claimed that reason for continuous fear during the period of Communist Normalization in the 1980's was not there; instead, it is a recreation of those trying to re-tell history. But, how can Klaus know this for certain? A nation that was told to suffer indoors, is a nation severed from neighbors and community. It turns into a culture of distrust. And, this is how the Communists ruled.

Maybe the reason no one is celebrating the Velvet Revolution is because the effects of being "separated and conquered" still linger. No one really knows what the Velvet Revolution means to the nation, because no one really knows what Communism meant to the nation. And, in this way, the Red Star is still victorious (at least for some).

Fall Festival

Fall is definatly my favorite season because of the changing of leaves. The reds, yellows and oranges give normal landscapes a warm feel that last until the leaves have fallen and turned brown. Once the leaves are on the ground it makes walking anywhere an almost musical journey, and the smell of the leaves bring to closer to the earth. Some of my fondest memories of fall are of walking through the woods with color all around and leaves softly falling to the ground around me as I walk.

For many people in Policka, and other places all over the world, fall is a time for harversting crops, drying fruit, making jam, wine, cider and brandi (plum, pear or aprocot), cutting and drying hay and cleaning up their gardens before the winter. Every weekend is spend doing these things in hopes to get all the work completed before the first frost.

On Sunday Jan based his family sunday sermon on giving thanks for what we have; plenty of food, a place to live, education, and family and friends. It is a fitting sermon for the end of fall, because all the harversting has been completed and people are getting ready for the winter months. It is also getting close to the anniversary of the fall of communism, which is extremely important for Czechs, but also something the younger generations are forgetting about. He also talked a little bit about the American tradition of Thanksgiving and explained that it is a long tradition and carries back to the time of the early settlers. After the service Jeremy and I had a fall festival planned for anyone who would like to take part, both from the church and community.

The event started off with the story of Johnny Appleseed (featuring Jeremy as Johnny Appleseed) and then went into crafts and snack. With the help of some friends we were able to make candles, homemade butter, yarn doll, god's eyes, and popcorn necklaces all at the same time! There were kids switching from station to station and even some adults made a candle or yarn doll. There was also a demonstation on combing and spinning wool and quilting. Our helpers all dressed up, which really brought the event to life, and everyone who attended had a good time. Afterward, the congragation had lunch together, which was the perfect ending to the morning.

Personally I was really excited about the event because it is close to home. Around this time there are fall festivals all over the east coast (mainly New England to Virgina)and I remember going to them as a kid. There were pumpkins, apple cider and hayrides. So for me, I wanted to show our friends here a little bit about where Jeremy and I grew up through the fall festival by having tradition crafts, making pumpkin cookies and apple bars, and dressing as if we were from the 18th centry. Of course this is not the only thing that represents where we grew up, but it was nice to share it with them. I would like to have a day were we talk about Pennsylvania and why Jeremy and I call it home.