Soul Searching

[this was written as a New Years post but it got lost. So here it is half way through the year to remind us all about those things we promised ourselves to change during this year.]

I have done a lot of thinking the last few days. I took some time to really reflect on my life in 2012 and come up with ways to make it better in 2013. I want to change some things in my life because I want to improve the lives of those around me and that means sacrifice. Some of the changes that I'm making might not be forever and some may turn into forever but its my life and voted on these changes.

1. Peace out Facebook. I have really become less and less of a fan over the last year and this year I cut ties with the alternate life. It's a wise professional decision for me but I also don't have time for it. I deleted the app months ago from my phone and I haven't missed it. I honestly don't want to spend minutes (aka hours) looking at other people's lives via social media. It's a pointless waste of time. So I'm cutting ties with no plan on ever coming back (and if I do...don't judge). If you get engaged, get a new puppy or do something cool and wanna tell me personally, I will jump up and down with you. But I'm not gonna read about it and look and hundreds of pictures on your wall or his wall anymore.

2. Goodbye high school clothes. I cleaned out my closet and officially said goodbye to all things Hollister and such. I had to clean it out partially because I had too many clothes in general but also because that stage of my life is over and I need to get ready to dress the part for my next stage in life. So I packed up all my high school and middle school clothes (basically the same stuff) and took it to some of my favorite girlies who are loving them just as much as I did!

3. Friends. I had to let some go over the last year and looking back I can see it has made me a much more positive person. I am a very loyal person so letting go is hard. We all fight with friends but sometimes people are only in your life for a season, and I need to let things stay that way. So this year I'm building so many new ones and I'm loving the fresh start! I also love continuing on friendships that I've had for years or decades :)

4. Clean. I'm embracing the clean lifestyle. If you know me, you know I'm organized and a neat freak. But this year I'm getting back to my roots of a clean diet and lifestyle all around. No more of this college living crap. I'm working out harder and eating incredibly clean these days. One thing I'm doing is giving up one thing I love for one month. So I picked 12 foods that I love or am tempted to eat too much of and for one month I won't touch it. After that month I'll be able to eat it again but this is to break habits and remind me I don't really need it.

5. Travel constantly. I'm packing my bags in about two months and heading to Europe for my last placement and semester of student teaching. This is one of my many ways I hope to travel this year. I want to constantly be traveling by reading books from all over the world on culture and lifestyles and languages and even some good fiction stories. I love to read and this year I'm attempting 52 in 52. Aka 52 books for 52 weeks of the year.

So these are just some of my working yearly commitments. Other ones are more personal and since I don't have Facebook you won't know about them now;) just kidding. But really- you won't because I'm not posting about them.

I hope you all take time to not only try to make your life better this year but the lives of others around you.

[Reflection: I'm not doing that bad. I picked realistic aspects of my life that I wanted to change and focus on. I'm still off Facebook and don't miss it one single day. I love all my professional clothes and get way more compliments on my style. I'm eating clean and training harder. And I've done my fair share of traveling around the world physically and through books. So how are you doing?]

Homeward bound

I have had an amazing last few days in Prague! My heart aches to say goodbye to this beautiful city filled with amazing people. But I'm currently in the airport looking at my plane and it's starting to sink in that I'm leaving. I'll probably cry the whole way to London and people will wonder what's wrong with the crazy girl in row 15. But at least I have some pretty awesome people waiting for me when I get back home! So here are my last words to Mr. Prague, the city that has taught me so much in last two months about culture, friendship, sacrifice, dreams, history, love and raw beauty. 

Goodbye clay rooftops. 

Goodbye old doors. 

Goodbye tall spires. 

Goodbye rock floors. 

Goodbye sweet flowers.

Goodbye yummy treats.

Goodbye gorgeous views. 

Goodbye sore feet. 

Goodbye dear friends. 

Goodbye precious littles.

Goodbye is to final, so

Until we meet again!

acting like an eight year old

Yesterday was a Czech holiday, Labor Day. So that meant no school for me and the littles. But since we love each other so much we weren't apart! My cooperating teacher and I actually spent our day off with most of our littles because one of them had a birthday party, and we were invited! So we went and it was so much fun:)

The little's birthday party was at a park that is in the southern part of Prague. And since it was a holiday getting there took a lot longer than we planned because public transportation was much slower. But we finally got there and had a blast.

I love being eight years old again:) even if it's just for a day!

The playground...well let's just say it would never exist in America. And if it did parents would need to sign waivers to let their child near it and then the children would have to wear a safety harness. No lie. Look at this thing!! The picture doesn't do it justice but those red ropes connect to the cat walks up high. And there is nothing really stopping the children from falling over 30 feet down to the ground expect strong arms and common sense. But it was so so fun!

Yes, I climbed it. Yes, my kids loved every minute of it. Yes, I want one!

My cooperating teacher and I were able to continue acting like eight year old children after we left the birthday party because...we went to the Praha Zoo!! The zoo is nothing like you find in America and that's what made it so special and fun! 

At times we close enough to actually touch most of the animals. There was usually a knee high fence and a ditch between me and the animals, and sometimes there was a little river of water - tell me how that stops monkeys from attacking me?! But the entire park is a must see!

Only one more day left with my little monkeys. 

It's hard to believe it's been almost 2 months!

after care

Every Tuesday after school my cooperating teacher and I watch a few of the littles until their parents can come and pick them up. So today I tell them to all find something to play with and about two minutes after they start they ask, "Miss Reed, can we practice our math with the fraction circles?" Music. To. My. Ears. "Yes!!! Of course you can, loves!" So now I'm can't stop laughing because they're taking turns pretending to be me teaching them math.

Here is the how I talk during math according to my second graders:
"I love how Jenny is sitting so quietly."
"I know your birthday party is tomorrow, Sam. Yes, I'm coming to the park for cake!"
"Who can  help me with this fraction?"
"I love how you're sitting."
"Go move your name down, Liam."
"Maybe you can try the fraction this way."
"I like the way Ben is sitting."
"Here is your prize for doing fraction circles and listening."
"Go put your name up to 'Outstanding' because I love the way you're acting today!"
"You can go out to recess now!"
"Wait! It's present time! Here is one for you, and you, and you..."
"I love the way Carly is sitting."
"Yes, you can have a hug."



And my favorite "Miss Reed" quote:
"I brought pizza for the whole class!!!"

You learn a lot when kids play teacher!!


*All names have been changed.

the castle guards gossip

Today I know what the castle guards are gossiping about....me! Why? Because I ran around the castle complex like I owned the place for about an hour in bright pink shoes. The castle is about a 30 minute run from my house here. So I stopped along the way to take some quick pictures on my phone because the views were stunning...

Then I decided that since the castle was open I would take a run around the complex. And it was magical! Who else can say that they went running around a castle? A princess that's who. Plus there was barely anyone around so I got some amazing shots of the castle...

I honestly don't know how I'm ever going to be able to run on a treadmill or through a development again. The views in Prague are breathtaking and keep me running for hours to see more! I am getting the best workouts here because I run for hours up and down the hills of this beautiful city!

But I know that I caused a few giggles from the castle guards because I was wearing my American bright pink running shoes and jumping off of steps and running up, down and all around. Oh well...everyone needs something or someone to talk about on their breaks, and today it's all about these pink sneakers!

*click on any pictures to see zoom in and see them bigger!

the prague diet

Living in overseas means eating like the natives.
So what does the Prague diet entail?
A lot of walking and fresh fruits and veggies.

Czechs go grocery shopping almost every single day
because they don't have cars to load everything in
so they carry all their groceries home. And no one
wants to carry too many things home so they don't.

This means that everything is very fresh to eat!
They have less preservatives here and plenty of
places near by to get fresh fruits and veggies from.
I mean Spanish strawberries...to die for!!

So one aspect of the Prague diet: fresh fruits
and veggies daily - basically every meal!
But add in that they eat less...small portions.

Lastly, walk, walk, walk, run, run, run.
Lots of walking everywhere around the
city to get things and go to work, and
then running for a great workout!

So basically....
1. eat lots of fresh fruits and veggies
2. eat smaller portions of food
3. walk everywhere and then go work out


And that my friends is the Prague diet!
I love it. Working out twice a day plus
all the walking, fresh meals and smaller
portions is looking pretty good on me!

sweet and silly

There is a little in my class who is always saying the sweetest and silliest things. These are his top 5 very funny, adorable, and a-sharing-must quotes from last week.

                                  FIVE.
(While holding his nose) "Miss Reed, can we please move back to our seats? I kinda tooted and it smells pretty gross over here in my spot...."
What do you say to that?! Yes.

                                  FOUR.
(Before standardized testing and after being told to use scrap paper to doodle when they're done) "Miss Reed, I'm gonna draw you a picture of my house so when you come over you know what it looks like. Oh and can you come over and okay at my house?! My mom will make us good and I have so many fun toys... At least for boys!"
He picture included his balcony and a clear distinction in the different paint colors on the steps and walls.

                                  THREE.
(Randomly during the day) "Miss Reed, I'm gonna miss you when I go to America but I can come visit you because we'll both be in America! But I don't know how far Utah is from Pennsylvania so here is a map to find me in case I can't find you!"
I think he's giving me a great excuse to travel out West!!

                                  TWO.

(After a Bible lesson) "Miss Reed, can you come over to my house so I can read you Bible stories from my Bible??"
YES!! YES!!!! YESSSSS!!!!

                                  ONE.

(After getting hurt and sitting on my lap to until he felt better) "Miss Reed, I prayed to Jesus and asked him to make my back feel better and it worked! But can you pray for me too?"
Every single day I do, bud. Every. Single. Day.