Posts Tagged ‘Prague’

Mosaic House: May Play and Stay Giveaway

May 10th, 2010

Want to come see me?!?! Want to visit Europe? Want to see the City of a Thousand Spires? Want to wander through beautiful Prague? Well, this might be your chance…

Become a fan of the new hotel, Mosaic House, on face book and you could win some great prizes (including a trip to Prague). Here are the details:

May is here…and you know what that means? It’s May (stay & play) giveaway time! Spread the word about us to all of your friends, and IF (and only if) WE REACH 2000+ FANS (or, people that ‘like’ us) BY THE END OF THE MONTH, we’ll award:

1) One Grand prize winner w/ an ‘all-expenses paid’* trip to Prague for the grand opening party (29 October) + Very Important Person (VIP) treatment!

2) One NEARLY Grand prize winner will be awarded ‘beer for a year’ (365 beers at our in-house Belushi’s Bar & restaurant, to be shared with friends over World Cup action, live music or a Belushi’s burger).

3) Three add’l fans will be awarded a free weekend stay** for two in one of our double ensuites.

4) Last but not least, the first 2000 fans of Mosaic House will be awarded a free small beer, redeemable at Belushi’s during World Cup action. All you need to do is show up between June 1st and July 12th, thirsty and with valid identification.

Stay at Mosaic House, Play at Belushi’s. Spread the word.

Terms and Conditions
*Airfare included, up to 800 USD plus meals at Belushi’s and free stay in premium double ensuite. Invitation to grand opening party in October included.
**Free weekend stays subject to availability and do not apply to holidays.

I’m so excited to tell you about this fun contest, not just because you could win a trip to Prague, but also because Mosaic House is a project that is close to my heart.

We’ve been on the sidelines watching this project as it’s grown up and developed. We’ve heard about the visions, dreams and passions for this place for about three years now. We’ve watched as plans have changed and difficult decisions have been made. You see, we live with some of the owners of Mosaic House and many of the managers for this new hotel are also friends of ours. We are so excited for them that this project is finally coming to fruition.

I’m sure I’ll be talking more about Mosaic House soon cause Bryan and I are going to go stay there sometime in the next few weeks (we’ll bring Thaddeus too and see what he thinks of this new Prague hotel). I can’t wait to see what it’ll be like for myself. Enter the contest and you could see what it’ll be like for yourself too.

Rejoicing in the journey -
Bethany Stedman

Never Miss A Post – Receive free updates via RSS or Email

If you like this post please consider buying me a cup of tea (Suggested: $3 a cup)



Things Are Happening In Prague

April 10th, 2010

Today I went to Berlin without ever leaving Prague… Or at least it felt a little bit like that.

This morning my dear friend, Carrie, and I went to a FARMERS MARKET!! I wrote Farmers Market all in caps because that’s how excited I am about it – the words should be read with the excitement and surprise due to all capital letters. Hehe.

The experience was not at all disappointing. Ok, it’s no Berlin Farmers Market, but it was really great. There were lots of stands with a variety of goods. I bought fresh yogurt (and regretted the fact that I didn’t also buy the fresh whey they were also selling at the same stand). I bought some Czech made honey, and ostrich meat too. Yes, ostrich meat! Carrie and I shared an organic crepe made from buckwheat and drizzled with honey.

All the stands were clearly labeled with the location where the farm was located. The people were friendly and nice and there was a general feeling of excitement in the air all around. They had TONS of beautiful flowers, plenty of fresh bread from local bakeries, fresh dairy products, honey, dried fish, veggies, handmade baskets and some fruit. I’m hoping that as we move into warmer weather there will be even more variety at the fruit and vegetable stands.

The market was located near Devicka circle and from what I hear it will be happening every other week throughout the summer. Personally I think that they should make it an every week market since the place was PACKED! There were so many people there that you had to wait in line at every stand. From what I hear the first one they did (which happened just a few weeks ago) was so crowded that by late morning the stands were all picked over. Today Carrie and I got there at around 8:45 and stayed for about an hour. There was plenty of food and other goods and it seemed they were very prepared for the crowds.

Carrie filled me in a little bit on the history of Farmers Markets in Prague and I thought it was interesting. Basically, before communism there used to be farmers markets in Prague really regularly, but the communists were, of course, against capitalism and private enterprises so they stopped the farmers markets. As far as we know this is the first farmers market to be organized in Prague since the communists stopped them (although, I could definitely be wrong).

Anyway, it felt really great to be a part of this farmers market.

Latter in the day Mathias called and said that he had seen this flea market type event going on in a warehouse just down the street and that we should check it out so Carrie and Thad and I walked down to explore. It turns out it was a big fashion market with tons of designers and lots of trendy unique stuff. It’s called Code Mode and it was really cool and totally had a Berlin like feel to it.

It took place in this massive old unfinished warehouse. There were stands everywhere with cloths, jewelry, purses, knickknacks, paintings and all kinds of other goods. There was chill funky music playing in the background. There was a big stage set up on one end where they did a fashion show last night and where there will be a concert tonight. There were tons of people mingling and shopping and, of course since it’s Europe, smoking. I could have done without the smoking, but other than that the place had a very cool vibe.

Things are happening in Prague. To me these things speak of the beauty, creativity, and individuality that is still very much alive in Prague. Some days I don’t see it. Honestly, some days Prague feels dead. But, today I was reminded that Prague is very much alive. The spring is here in Prague and there is so much more to come.

Rejoicing in the journey -
Bethany

Never Miss A Post – Receive free updates via RSS or Email

If you like this post please consider buying me a cup of tea (Suggested: $3 a cup)



Prague: The Good and The Bad

February 9th, 2010

Yesterday I found myself thinking about what I like and don’t like about Prague and my life in Prague. As I thought I realized that many of the little things that I like and don’t like are opposite sides of the same coin.

I like that there are four distinct seasons in Prague. I like that the city feels like a completely different place with each season. In the summer the atmosphere is crowded and animated as the city comes alive with festivals as well as tourists. In the fall the leaves change colors, there’s a crispness in the air, and the city seems itself to speak of bygone days and ancient stories. In the winter the snow on the rooftops, the charm of the Christmas markets and the lights that shine through the dreaded darkness give the city a magical ambiance. And in the spring everything aches with new life and the new birth that even the very buildings seem to have longed for throughout the cold winter.
…But, having four distinct seasons means there is a bitter cold winter that lasts far longer than I would like. I really hate being cold and I often feel like I’m always cold here.

I like living in an expat community. I like that when I meet other Americans we have an instant connection, and a whole set of shared experiences right from the start. There is something instantly bonding just because we are from the same country and culture. And there is something bonding about the fact that we have both experienced what it is like to move overseas and live in foreign Prague. I like that most (if not all) of the expats I’ve met seem to be always on the lookout for friends and “family” here in Prague. Expats usually aren’t in closed circles, they aren’t ingrained in the same circles of friends that they’ve had for years upon years. Instead they are constantly looking for friends and open to meeting people. We have all uprooted from our friends and family and we know that the only way to survive here is to establish strong bonds and friendships. I like that. I like that people are really open to one another and looking for friends. It all makes getting to know people a lot easier in a way.
…But, I also really dislike living in an expat community because it means that you live in a constantly transient community. Most expats don’t stay long in Prague. They come for all different reasons – to teach, to preach, to work. Some come just for the experience and the adventure of it. But, no matter what their reason is most don’t stay longer than a few years. Bryan and I are still fairly new to Prague (we’ve only been here for 3 years) but we have been here long enough to say good bye to good friends and those who could have been good friends. It’s hard to live and build community when you never know how long someone will be around, or even how long you will be around.

I love not having a car. I love that I don’t have to pay for gas or car insurance or deal with fixing it when it brakes. I love that I get more exercise without even trying here just from all the walking. I love that my transportation doesn’t use up as many resources and I’m not having as negative of an effect on the world around me.
…But, I don’t really like actually using public transportation. I don’t like that it takes me twice as long to get across the city as it would with a car. I don’t like that if I miss the tram I have to stand out in the cold sometimes for 10 or 15 minutes. I don’t like squeezing onto a crowded tram or metro, worrying about pick-pockets, or the smell. And I don’t like that my husband doesn’t like to talk on public transportation so we rarely are able to have conversations on the way to and from places.

I love the friends we have here and I love living life with them. We do know some really amazing people here. We have friends here who really care about us as individuals and as a couple and who already really love Thaddeus. We have friends here who by their very lives and generosity have poured out blessing after blessing upon us and we are so grateful to know them and be in community with them.
…But, living life with these friends means not living daily life with other friends and family in the states, who also care about us deeply. I don’t like that.

Well, Thaddeus just woke up from his nap so… that’s all for now, folks!

Rejoicing in the journey -
Bethany Stedman

Never Miss A Post – Receive free updates via RSS or Email

If you like this post please consider buying me a cup of tea (Suggested: $3 a cup)



Just Some Random Thoughts

February 6th, 2010

Well, it’s been just over four months since Thaddeus was born and clearly I haven’t been able to figure out how to be parent and a blogger. There have definitely been times when I have struggled with the loss of blogging as an outlet. There is a deep part of me that longs to write about and share my journey into parenthood so far. There is a part of me that wants to share and commiserate about the severe struggles and about the tremendous triumphs. I want someone to really know and understand what being Thaddeus’ mom has been like. But, there is also a part of me that hasn’t wanted to blog or more accurately hasn’t known how to blog about all that I’ve experienced and thought in the past four months. Not only has it felt overwhelming to just find the time to blog amid the exhaustion it has also felt overwhelming to figure out how to put into words what I’m feeling and thinking. But, I guess that’s nothing new – I had similar feelings about blogging when I was pregnant.

But, now as we reach the end of our first week back in Prague I find myself again desperate to process in writing all that is going on. I’ve blogged in one form or another for 8 years now and this past year of pregnancy and birth have not been my first dry spell, but I suddenly feel truly parched. I need to write. I need to have space to process and communicate.

But, yet, I find myself still unsure where to start. I think for now I’m going to stick with some bullet points of what my experiences and thoughts have been this past week especially. These will be random and may not be coherent or at all interesting to anyone but me, but for now I really need to just vomit my brain out on paper for a little bit.

-          I love living next to Carrie and Mathias again. Being able to talk with Carrie, or share a meal the four of us, even if it’s just quick, has been such a refreshing breath of fresh air amidst the culture shock this past week. As much as I need my alone time and space sometimes, we truly were not made for isolation. We were made for community and it’s so powerful when we get to experience it with people who we really care about. It’s been amazing to me how natural it has felt living side-by-side with them again after so long apart and such big changes in our lives.

-          I desperately miss Whole Foods. On Thursday I went grocery shopping here in Prague and I stood in the store with Thaddeus in the stroller and the contrast between it and Whole Foods nearly took my breath away. For a second I actually wanted to cry. I know it’s silly. It’s not like I live in some third world country. My grocery store is actually really pretty nice and caries a decent selection, but it can’t compare at all to Whole Foods. And it’s the little things like the feel when you walk in a grocery store or the fact that I can’t read anything in the grocery store that really drive the culture shock home. On the other hand I probably have a little bit of an unhealthy obsession with Whole Foods…

-          Even more than Whole Foods I really miss my sister and her family. I feel like we really bonded during this past trip and it’s sad to me to not be able to share a meal with Brie and Nate, or have a tea party with my little niece Faithlyn or hear my nephew Landen say “You guys!”, or cuddle with my new little niece Adalyn.

-          It’s really hard when your heart is in two places. There are people here that we love and missed so much that we got teary when we saw them again. There are people in the states that we love and have deep histories with. How do you find balance and contentment with where you are when you are always a little divided?

-          My friend used the word “sharp” to describe the culture shock she experienced last time she came back to Prague. I can’t think of a better word to describe what I’ve felt this past week. The culture shock has been severe and sharp.

-          Dealing with culture shock in the middle of winter with a child is… interesting… especially if that child was colicky and is still “difficult”.

-          It’s interesting how sometimes labeling something somehow makes it better. This week I was finally officially able to label Thad as having been colicky. So, I’ve said off and on throughout the first four months of Thaddeus’ life that I think he might have colic. Bryan has always responded with “No, he’s fine. All babies fuss and cry.” When I tried to talk to our pediatrician in the states he basically dismissed it without even asking me why I thought he might have colic or hearing anything about how much or how often he cried. My mom was probably the only person who really listened and believed me, but her response was usually something along the lines of, “well, Thad is just like his mommy. Now you know what I went through.” I guess I’ve never talked with anyone who really fully took my concern and frustration seriously, maybe that’s partly my fault for trying to downplay what I was feeling and put up a good face (I have far too long a history of doing this). This week I started reading the book Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child and the thing that was more helpful for me then even the sleep advice was how he explained the clinical definition of colic. He said that if you spend a total amount of more than 3 hours a day 3 days a week for 3 weeks in a row soothing your baby to prevent crying then your baby is extremely fussy/colicky. He says “There may be no crying because of your soothing effort, just endless fussing. Or, she might sometimes cry anyway despite your soothing efforts.” I read this section and I thought “YES, this is Thaddeus.” I honestly feel like we spend almost all day everyday soothing Thaddeus to keep him from crying. I have spent hours on end bouncing on a birthing ball to calm him, walking endlessly up and down stairs because the up and down motion kept him from crying, holding him tightly while he literally screamed for no apparent reason. But, here’s what’s really frustrating me now – he’s four months old and some days I feel like I still have to spend a good deal of my day soothing him to keep him from crying. Sure it’s not as bad as before, but he’s still difficult. Before this week we were still doing all those things to sooth him most of the time, but it was ok, and manageable because we were staying with family and I didn’t have a house to keep, and Bryan was only working minimum hours, and we had people around to help out all the time. Suddenly since coming back to Prague I feel completely overwhelmed. But, somehow I felt less overwhelmed once I could label it… funny how that is.

-          Getting a colicky/post-colicky difficult baby to sleep well in a new place with jet-lag can be even more challenging than keeping them from crying. What little time I have the last few days has been completely consumed with reading about and researching different sleep methods and trying to figure out what the best thing to do for Thad is. It’s hard to wade through all the information when everyone has their conflicting opinion that they are adamant is the only way to do it.

-          On Thursday our dear friends brought us their old cloth diapers and yesterday I started using them exclusively. Is it weird that using cloth diapers made me really happy yesterday? I really love that we are finally using all cloth diapers. Maybe a few more months and we’ll get up the guts to try ECing… hum, maaaaaybe?

-          Going to church as a mommy is a totally different experience. And it can be incredibly stressful. It takes a lot of work to get out the door with an infant, so you go through all that, and often mess up their natural sleeping/eating schedule so that you can miss the whole service because you are out in the hall or ladies room nursing or trying to sooth/entertain them so that they don’t cry. It feels like the only real benefit of going is socializing before and afterwards, but even that is stressful when you are trying to keep your baby asleep or bouncing them on your hip to keep them calm and happy. You could put them in the nursery or go into the nursery yourself with them, but so far at the big churches we were going to in the states I haven’t really felt comfortable doing that. Really it just got me thinking about how the structure of church is not really designed with the mommy or even the complete family unit in mind. I’ve said for a while that it kind of bothered me that each age group of the family got split up at church and went off to their own “program”, but now as a mom it bothers me even more. Sure I need a brake every now and then, but most of the time I want to be with my son and I especially want to be with him as he’s learning about God and having those views shaped. I don’t know, that’s just some other stuff I’ve been thinking about.

Anyway, those are the random thoughts for now.

Rejoicing in the journey -
Bethany Stedman

Never Miss A Post – Receive free updates via RSS or Email

If you like this post please consider buying me a cup of tea (Suggested: $3 a cup)



Happy Birthday Sir Toby’s

July 4th, 2009

On top of today being the 4th of July it is also a special day for some very dear friends of ours. Today our friend’s hostel, Sir Toby’s Hostel, celebrates its 10th birthday.  We love hanging out at Sir Toby’s and feel so proud to know the people who started it all. If you ever visit Prague and would like a great place to stay I highly recommend this cozy, warm, fun hostel. And even if you live in Prague it’s a great place to hang out – their pub down stairs sells tasty vegetarian food and amazing cookies. Happy Birthday Sir Toby’s!

Rejoicing in the journey -
Bethany

Never Miss A Post – Receive free updates via RSS or Email

If you like this post please consider buying me a cup of tea (Suggested: $3 a cup)