Friday 25 March 2016

Love is in the air


So it turns out my cousin Jan de Graaf is getting married while I am in Europe, to the lovely Yvette. I'm stoked for both of them. Only small complication: They're not getting married in Holland but in Rwanda. Cue several late nights poring over the interweb looking for affordable flights and another visit to my friend Aimee the travel agent, and I am now the happy owner of a return ticket to Kigali for a traditional two-day African wedding in mid-August. It's going to be a mission - the flights are Prague-Istanbul-Entebbe-Kigali - but it's going to be awesome.

Sunday 13 March 2016

The last photo

This is the last photo my mum took - a windmill in a snow-covered landscape on the way to Schipol airport - when she left the Netherlands more than 50 years ago. I hope it's a bit warmer when I get there.

Sunday 6 March 2016

Back to school


Here's some more ancient history ... my first farewell party at Česko-anglické gymnasium (Anglo-Czech High School) in the Czech Republic. I'm guessing this is about 1995. Embarrassingly, this was only the first of many going-away parties because I kept going back. Also leaving for adventures overseas were Jarda (seated, left), Klára and Lenka. Note how the darlings spelt out a message using my favourite kind of slice. 
I'm still in touch with some of these students; hopefully I'll be able to catch up with them soon. 
  

Saturday 5 March 2016

Kde domov můj?



Here's another place I'm looking forward to seeing again - České Budějovice, a city about three hours south of Prague, where I lived from 1992-99. I still have lots of friends here and the school where I used to teach is expecting a visit...

* Kde domov můj? is the name of the Czech national anthem. It translates as: Where is my home?