Changing Seasons and Cultural Challenges

I have always loved the changing of the seasons. There’s something magical about the leaves transforming into a beautiful collage of colors and the anticipation of the first snowfall, but in Central Europe this magic is accompanied with the cloud of sunset at 4:30 and many days, even weeks, without a hint of sun. These times have revealed to us the importance of leaning into our new culture. We are trying to embrace new traditions when possible. 

So instead of the state fair, we explore a new part of the city. We learn about the incredible struggle for independence that this country has experienced, which helps us better understand the inner struggle of the people, who want to move forward and be happy but often don’t know how. A Czech lady once told us that there is this constant tension between wanting to be like an Italian, bubbly,  hopeful, smiling, and generally happy. This is contrasted by the knowledge that the Czech Republic remains neighbors with Germany, with its complicated history and sense of cold efficiency. 

 Exhibit placed in the city center to commemorate Czech history. 

November 17th is Struggle for Freedom and Democracy Day here in the Czech Republic. This day commemorates the role students played in the fight for freedom. In 1939, Nazi soldiers stormed the University of Prague in response to demonstrations against German occupation. Nine students were executed and over 1200 students were sent to concentration camps. In 1989, a memorial march took place. This resulted in strikes prompted by students, which became the Velvet Revolution, the beginning of the end of the communist regime. 

Embracing a new culture is exciting, and often challenging. The early sunsets only add to that challenge. But we remain convinced that we are supposed to be here, so we continue to lean into the culture a little more each day, accepting the challenges ahead. 

Long Haired Bulls, Tiny Roads, and Sheep! Oh my!

 Last week we took a trip to celebrate our fifteenth anniversary. Yes, it’s quite late to be celebrating an anniversary that happened in July, but better late than never. We chose Scotland for this latest adventure. I won’t say it was the most relaxing of vacations but it had some of the most beautiful landscapes we’ve experienced. Driving on the opposite side of the road can be quite unnerving!! Not to mention the fact that outside the city there are many roads that have to be shared for both directions, in which one car must pull over in order for another car to keep driving….a tricky business indeed…oh yay, and there may be sheep crossing the street at any given point.

Just beyond the sheep is the cutout that may or may not
be close by in case another car is coming. 

I asked this Highland bull to pose for the picture and it did!

We explored Edinburgh a bit and rented a car to see the countryside on the way to the Isle of Skye. Believe it or not, hearing so much English after being immersed in Czech language for months is both a mental break and unsettling at the same time. Every once in awhile during our trip I’d think, “Why can I understand what they are saying… wow I must be getting better at this language thing…oh yeah they’re speaking English.... hmmm." It’s amazing how being able to ask about something or find something in your native language simplifies the tasks of everyday life (i.e. directions, menus, etc.).

The Isle of Skye is so picturesque it looks fake.

Scotland was much more diverse than we expected. At times the landscape reminded us of the Appalachian Mountains and other times it was reminiscent of various places in Canada. At one point we even felt like we were traipsing around the Shire from The Lord of the Rings. Below is a picture of Kilt Rock and Mealt Falls. Kilt Rock looks similar to a pleated kilt, hence the name. Eileen Donan Castle is on the way to the Isle of Skye. We didn't know it at the time but it is one of the most photographed castles in Scotland and has been used in several movies. The last picture is of the Fairy Glen. Our pictures could never do it justice but you can google Fairy Glen Skye and see some magnificent views. We are so thankful to have had a chance to explore God's beautiful creation. 

Going Postal

Today’s adventure takes us to the local post office. 

We received a notice in the mail that our new SIM cards for our phone had arrived. We got our passports and the package slip and headed to the post office. 

Upon arrival at the post office, there is a machine with NINE options: 

Only one ticket may be selected.
It's like Highlander, without the immortality. 

The option selected determines the line to be in. We think.

We were Klient 523

At this particular post office, no choices are in English, as expected. We are living in a foreign country after all. No problem, we will just go to Google Translate on our phones. No, no we won’t. The whole point of us being at the post office was to pick up the new SIM cards for the phones. Most every cellular plan here is prepaid and ours had run out. 

So we ran into the proverbial catch-22. We needed to push the right button to get the SIM cards and we needed the SIM cards to know what the signs said in order to push the right button. We stared nervously at the nine options, realizing that a wrong choice might send us to a stamp purchasing line and not the parcel pick up line. Or maybe even some mystery line, with some sinister purpose such as paying for internet. 

Which line is it anyway? 

The tension began to mount as no one looked on and no one cared. A little old lady entered. She walked directly to the machine we were standing in front of and confidently pushed the button. It’s not a challenge if you can read the words, lady. 

We decided to go for it. My gut told me it was option one, so naturally we went with a different option. The result? 

We got the SIM cards! Another small achievement unlocked! 

How can one fit in the box and not the other? 

When we got home we checked the mail box. We found a sale paper inside that was larger than the SIM card packaging. We began to wonder if this was all just a test to see if we could victoriously navigate the postal system here. Probably not, but if it was, we passed. 

No blog next week! We will be on fall holiday! 

Let's Take a Walk

A police officer checked
our permits before the walk.

Yesterday we participated in the annual A21 Walk for Freedom. This is a walk that promotes awareness of the worldwide human trafficking epidemic. 

We gathered in Wenceslas Square, which is a nice central location in the city. Everyone dressed in black and we placed a strip of tape over our mouths. The tape had the name of a person who had been rescued on it. A21 posted companion podcast on their website that told the story of these rescues. 

Here is that link: http://www.a21.org/content/walk-day-of/gop0rs

Some of the students that made the walk possible!

As we walked, single file and very slowly, I was deeply affected by the reactions we were getting. Everyone we passed stopped to read our signs. Some said “We support you!” Others questioned what the movement was even about. There were the naysayers, of course, but that is to be expected. 

The thing I think I liked most about the walk was the diversity of our group. We had high school students, teachers, and parents. We had Czechs, Americans, and Brits. But I think the most interesting dynamic we had was this: Christians and Atheists. 

It made me think that maybe there’s hope in this world. If we can get people who disagree to unite for a common cause, then we might just win the fight against trafficking after all. 

Our whole group!

Abolishing Slavery One Walk At A Time

Walk for Freedom

Did you know it is estimated that every 30 seconds someone becomes a slave? More people are enslaved today than ever before. Evil does not discriminate; human trafficking is occurring all over the world right in front of our eyes. It is the fastest growing criminal industry in the world. Unlike drugs, guns, etc. a person can be sold over and over again and therefore it is an appealing and lucrative business for criminals. There are many forms of trafficking including sex, forced labor, bonded labor, involuntary domestic servitude, and child soldiers. Traffickers use a variety of methods to recruit victims such as: false job advertisements, targeting impoverished families, loverboy (pretending to be in love), and abduction. In order to maintain control of their victims, traffickers use violence, deception, imprisonment, debt bondage, isolation, etc.

It is horrifying to think that social media sites such as Facebook and advertisement sites such as Backpage.com are being used to sell humans but that is the reality. Here is where we come in: Next Saturday, October 14^th, people from all over the world will be participating in A21’s annual fundraiser and awareness event called #WalkForFreedom. For those who don’t know, A21 is a global anti-human trafficking organization working to free millions of men, women, and children trapped in slavery. The walk is a simple and tangible way for everyone to get involved. Check out A21.org to sign up to join the walk in your area and for a list of clues that may help in identifying a possible trafficking victim.

If you would like more information on how we are getting involved in anti-human trafficking here in Prague you can request to be added to our newsletter list by sending us a quick email at tonyataylor33@gmail.com or by sending us a PM on Facebook.

The Golem of Prague and Other Legends

It's October, and that always puts me in the Halloween spirit. (Or Harvest, for all you evangelicals out there.) Ever since I can remember, I have loved scary stories and the thrills and chills they inspire. 

One of the many things I love about Prague is its legends and ghost stories. My favorite among those stories is a little gem that comes out of the Josefov section of Prague One: The Golem. 

This statue is just outside the entrance to the Jewish Quarter (Josefov). Photo courtesy of the Prague Post. 

In this story, a rabbi makes a golem out of clay to defend the Jewish people in Praha from evil and oppression  The golem even performs various tasks for the people, because of its great strength. The golem is powered by a small scroll that is inserted into its mouth. Other accounts have the golem being powered by a word carved into its forehead. 

This Golem patrols the streets of Josefov today.  He enjoys taking donations in exchange for pictures of him. 

But something goes horribly wrong, and the creature begins attacking its own people. The rabbi is forced to deactivate the creature because it has gotten out of control. The scroll is removed from the golem and it is rendered motionless. (There are varying accounts on how the golem was deactivated, depending on who tells you the story.)

The Old-New Synagogue

So what happened to the golem? Accounts differ, but the most popular one is that the golem is housed in the Attic of the Staronova Synagoga (Old-New Synagogue). Legend says that if you enter the attic and look upon the golem, you'll die. 

There are many more amazing stories in this city we call home, such as the poker playing ghost that simply can't lose, a headless Templar Knight, and a skeleton that begs drunk people for money just after dusk. Look them up if you get a chance! 

Next: Anti-Trafficking Updates!

Buttermageddon 2017

It is truly a desperate hour. It's disappearing off of shelves faster than it can be replaced. Prices are skyrocketing. People are panicking. Well, mildly complaining anyway. It's nowhere to be found at a reasonable rate. What is it? It's butter. Golden, delicious butter. 

There is a nation wide butter shortage here in Czech Republic. Head to your local Billa and prepare to be disappointed. Enter your local Albert and be downcast. You'll be greeted with an empty shelf and a sign that reads: 

As a civilized society, what are we expected to do? Use margarine? Why don't we just go back to living in caves and communicating in grunts and gestures. 

Luckily the Czech spirit has yet to be crushed, choosing to channel their outrage in memes: 

("Cerstve Maslo" means fresh butter.)

The next few weeks here will be taxing on all of us. I feel confident in our ability to persevere though. Buttermageddon 2017 will not keep us from living our lives. 

In times of crisis, heroes rise. This time, they'll be butter flavored. 


Next Week: A local legend or two!