Happy New Year 2022!

 

Happy New Year
Czech Off the Beaten Path

Hi Everyone,

I hope you've all had a very Merry Christmas & a Happy New Year! This is a little late, but things have been busy here! Even so, I wanted to put together a short update on what's going on here. 

Quiet Holidays

Jiri and I celebrated our 17th wedding anniversary in the first part of December! It's also the anniversary of my moving to the Czech Republic. It's now been 15 years since I stepped off the plane to my new life as an expat. It's hard to believe so many years have gone by! 

We had a quiet Christmas and New Year's. Our Czech family and friends didn't get together because of Covid. However, we still managed to celebrate with family and friends online. Even so, we still had a very nice holiday. It's been a great time to relax (after baking and cooking) and to spend a little time together. 

Covid Christmas

Covid Still Rules

Like the rest of the world, we're still dealing with Covid here, too. People are so tired of the pandemic, lockdowns, wearing masks, etc. There have been protests against the anti-Covid measures in this country; however, most people are abiding with the mask requirement and getting vaccinated. 

Vaccination has been a problem here, too, as it has in the US and other parts of Europe. However, with the onset of Omicron, there's been a slight uptick in the numbers getting vaccinated for the first time and those who are getting boosters.

They're expecting the Omicron variant to start causing problems once everyone is back from the holidays. So, we've been preparing just in case things get back. We're not hoarding! 

Instead, we've bought OTC meds a little ahead. For instance cough syrup. The kind of cough syrup I can take has been out of stock since before the holidays. So, I've bought the tablets instead. The freezer is also full. I've made some meals ahead and we have plenty of ingredients on hand. 

So, we're prepared as much as we can be.

Covid Vaccine

My Vaccine Experience

I'm an advocate for Covid measures, including vaccinations. That's in spite of continuing to deal with the side effects from the Pfizer vaccine. I've been dealing with neurological issues for the past few months. My last shot was in August. 

I'm due for a booster next month. However, I've got to consult with the doctor to see if the booster is safe for me or not. I'm concerned that the 3rd one could really cause some problems with my health. So, we'll have to see what happens. 

New Year Weight Loss Goals

New Year Weight Loss

As many others have done, I've also gained some weight since Covid started. So, I've decided it's time to start a weight loss regime. There won't be any specific diet used. My doctor has ruled out anything like the Keto diet or others that are trending. So, I have to use common sense. That means cutting out the garbage stuff, eating smaller portions, and exercising more. 

In the past this program worked pretty well for me. I'm older now, so it will be interesting to see if this type of weight loss program still works! 

I'd love to get an e-bike, but Jiri says they're too dangerous. Ach jo...that means walking and other types of exercise will be needed. That's OK. I can manage it, even without an e-bike! 

Writing on my Blogs More Often

Another goal is to write on my blogs more regularly! I've been busy with other projects and haven't had time to write here or on my other blogs. 

I have about four blogs with my own domains now. Each one is on a different topic, which keeps things interesting. But it's necessary to include these blogs in my writing schedule, which is already very full. 

It might be more realistic to write a blog post a month for each one. However, I'd love to write on my sites more often. We'll see how it goes. 

Never Stop Dreaming

Content Writing Work Continues

My work creating content for websites also continues on Fiverr. This is what keeps me pretty busy, with not much time for my blogs, etc! 

Creating Designs

I continue to create designs as often as possible. There, again, I don't always have enough time to devote to this work/hobby. However, I do create new designs every so often. 

My stores are on Zazzle and I have a new one on Gumroad, too. My main Zazzle store does OK. I don't do any promotion, so the sales are organic. This shop doesn't bring in so much, but it's OK. 

Then there's a new Zazzle shop Angelfire Mountain Designs (there's also a new blog that goes with this shop: Angelfire Mountain Designs). These are both new, so there aren't many products or articles yet. However, it's something new, which is always fun to work on!

I'm also looking at creating Canva templates and selling these on Gumroad. We'll see. These are some ideas. 

Then there's KDP low content publishing. I've also gotten into that a little bit. So far, there are only five books for sale. However, I hope to make more. It's fun and challenging to come up with original designs to potentially sell!

Wind Turbines Renewable Energy

 The Energy Crisis

As you may have heard, Europe is experiencing an energy crisis. I won't go into all the politics and issues with that. However, we've been told blackouts may be coming our way, especially if the winter is very cold. 

Blackouts are pretty common in the US. Where I used to live in the US, we would sometimes be without power for days! My folks installed a generator, which was a huge help. So, I learned how to manage when power outages hit. 

However, here, power outages have been extremely rare. I can count on one hand the number of power outages I've experienced since moving here. The power outages also didn't last too long--may 2 or more hours, but that's about it. 

But now things may be a little different with the energy crisis. No one really knows! So, like my Dad always taught us, I've been preparing ahead just in case. We invested in a small backup power source and a solar panel. These aren't very large, but would provide enough power to get through a day or so. 

I'm also looking at ways to change my work a little bit. I usually work online quite a bit. However, a new plan would be to do research before I write, saving it on an external hard drive. That way, I could still get work done and use my phone's data plan to upload the work when finished.

So, we're prepared as much as we can be if there really are blackouts and other energy problems. We'll have to wait and see what develops (or not)!  

Closing Thoughts

Well, that's about all for the update today! I just wanted to say hi and let you know what I've been up to! Even though I can't get out too much right now, there's plenty going on! 

I hope & pray that each of you stays safe and healthy! And I'd like to wish you all the very best in this new year of 20221

God bless,

Sher 

Cross-Cultural Wedding Anniversary

At first glance, it would seem that a Czech and an American would have plenty in common when it comes to culture and society. Wrong! Think about it for a minute. My Czech husband grew up under the communist regime, while I grew up under capitalism. Not only that, we have the “East/West” cultures to deal with, along with many other differences. 

Now don’t get me wrong—Jiri and I had plenty of things in common from the beginning, but we didn’t really “get” many differences until two years after our marriage, when I moved to be with him in the Czech Republic.

Our Language Differences

Over the years, we’ve regularly faced language issues. Our relationship has been mostly conducted in English. One of the biggest problems we faced after I moved here was with my use of American slang.

We’ve also developed our own form of “Czenglish”—not proper Czech and not proper English—that we understand most of the time. However, when I through in some American slang, and all bets are off. 

Funny Arguments

Jiri and I would get into an argument and I would burst out with some slang—nothing offensive and no bad words—just normal everyday slang used back home. When that happened, Jiri immediately jumped to the conclusion that I was using bad words and calling him bad names. Nothing could be further from the truth! However, that feeling does add a different dimension to a fight.

So, right in the middle of the fight, we’d have to back track to the slang I had used. I had to explain what it meant, and that it wasn’t offensive in any way. By the time the explanations were over, the fight was forgotten (most of the time!) and we were laughing and making up again. This was just one aspect in our cross-cultural marriage we had to deal with. There have been many more over the years. 

Proper Etiquette & Other Issues

If you want to fit in to a new culture as an expat, then you'll need to try to dress and act like those in your new home country, along with learning proper manners, etc.  

Jiri had a lot to teach me about proper Czech/European behavior, etiquette and other issues. One of the hardest issues for me has been talking too loudly in public spaces. Americans, we don’t know it, but we’re very loud and boisterous in public, compared to many other parts of the world. Here, in the Czech Republic, people are generally soft-spoken in public. You rarely hear anyone raising their voice unless there’s an argument involved, football (soccer) or alcohol. People here laugh and talk, but do it quietly in public areas.

Well, me, I’m quiet by American standards, but Czechs knew right away I was a foreigner--an American or a Brit (they couldn’t tell from my accent)--because I talked and laughed louder than Czechs nearby. This type of behavior’s not appreciated by Czechs. They will give you dirty looks. Someone may make some comment in your hearing or tell you directly that you’re being too loud and unruly. 

I had a really hard time “toning it down” to a Czech level, especially when happy to be with my husband. Nowadays I blend in sound-level-wise, unless I’ve just come back from a visit back to the States. Then I have to “flip the switch” to my proper Czech way of being and doing. J

Home Shoes (Pantofle)

Another issue is removing your shoes when entering your or someone else’s home. This was really strange for me. You’re supposed to take your shoes off to keep dirt and other yucky things from coming into the house on your shoes. Czechs typically take their shoes off in the entryway of a house or flat, then don “home shoes” (pantofle), which are slippers and clogs. You can also choose to go stocking-footed, which is what I usually do.

Most homes keep a set of home shoes for visitors. You just never know how many feet have already worn those slippers. So I usually just stay in my socks, or sometimes even take my own home shoes. I have to say that these days I’m a complete convert when it comes to taking off your shoes before entering a home. It really does keep the dirt and other stuff out and keeps your floors in better shape and cleaner.

One note—if you’re fortunate to be invited to a Czech friend’s home, be sure to wear socks with no holes! Socks with holes will embarrass your Czech friends and you’ll look like a slob who doesn’t care about your appearance in their eyes. J

Wearing Lace in Public

Lace was another issue—it wasn’t acceptable to wear lace in public for a long time. In Prague, this rule has been relaxed over the last few years. But in smaller cities and villages, don’t wear lace when out and about. It’s seen as something provocative and attention-getting.

The first time I wore lace it was to a party at Jiri’s office. I had on a nice shirt that had Battenburg lace on the collar and it was cut out, just showing the collar bone. Nothing else was bare. Even so, that lace drew a lot of attention and I was pretty embarrassed. I have never worn lace in public again. J

As I’ve said, these days, especially in Prague, the dress code as broadened to include lace. I don’t think many, except maybe some older people, would find it any strange now. 

Although, I have to say it's still awfully confusing on why it's OK to sunbathe naked in public spaces, but you couldn't wear lace. It boggles the mind.

Today’s Our 13^th Wedding Anniversary

On this day 13 years ago we became husband and wife. The years have proven there’s still much to learn about one another. Each new life experience we face together means having to find that common ground that brought us together in the first place. We’ve managed to successfully bridge the gap thus far and continue to work together to forge our love in this most intimate of cross-cultural exchange called marriage.

That’s all for now! Have a great day!

God bless,

Sherry

Happy 9th Anniversary Czech Off the Beaten Path

Hi Everyone, 
Today (October 31st) marks the 9th anniversary for Czech Off the Beaten Path! It’s hard to believe this blog’s been around since 2007. Blogging has taken me on an adventure, with many twists and turns over the years. 

I originally started writing here as a way to share my expat life with others. This blog’s also been a form of therapy; it’s given me some vital perspectives on being in a cross-cultural marriage and living in a foreign country. Writing has been a cathartic process, as well as a fun way to meet others and make expat friends.

Top 9 Posts of All Time

Here are the top 9 CZOBP (Czech Off the Beaten Path) blog posts of all time. These are the posts that have received the most traffic through the years. You’ll find some of the twists and turns of expat life, cross-cultural relationship humor and issues, along with some of my favorite places visit in this beautiful country.

The posts start with #9 and go down to #1—the top post of this blog:

9). Prachovske Skaly

8). Gluten Free Guide to Prague

7). The Overly Sensitive Feminist and the Insensitive Cactus

6). St. Wenceslas: Patron Saint of the Czech Republic

5). What's a Crock Pot

4). Czech Scientists and Inventors

3). Všech svatých—All Saints Day

2). Pomlázka and Easter Whippings

1). Living as an American in the Czech Republic

9 Off the Beaten Path Facts about the Czech Republic

When searching for information about the Czech Republic, you’ll come across interesting facts such as the country is landlocked, it has over 2,000 castles and castle ruins, Prague Castle is the biggest in the world, etc. However, there are some other unusual facts you don’t often come across about the Czech Republic. Let’s take a look at some “off the beaten path” facts about this beautiful and fascinating country. 

Skull of St. Wenceslas paraded on his saint day.
Wikipedia

1). St. Wenceslas (Sv. Vacláv), the patron saint of the Czech Republic, was martyred by his younger brother, Boleslav. This is the very Wenceslas we sing about in the traditional Christmas carol “Good King Wenceslas.” There is a legend which says that St. Wenceslas and an army of knights sleep inside a mountain called Blaník. The legend goes on to say that when the Czech lands are in the greatest danger, St. Wenceslas and his knights will come out of Blaník to save the country from its enemies, and bring in a time of peace and prosperity for the land.

2). Foreigners may find it strange, but when you enter a Czech home, you’re asked to remove your shoes and put on pantofle (house shoes/slippers).  This is done to keep a home clean from outside dirt (including dog poo on sidewalks and other yucky things). Some businesses also require employees to wear pantofle while working. There’s a Czech saying that you should never leave home with holes in your socks—this is the reason why.

3). Legends say that Princess Libuše started the Czech Přemyslid dynasty, the first rulers in the Czech Republic. She was one of three sisters who were daughters of King Krok (hewas descended from Father Czech—the original Czech leader). Each sister had a gift: one sister was a healer, another was a priestess, and Libuše could foretell the future. She is widely known for her vision of Prague. She had a vision while standing on a rocky cliff above the Vltava, looking down to where the city of Prague would eventually stand, “I see a great city whose glory will touch the stars.” After inheriting the crown from her father, Libuše ruled well and justly for a time. However, eventually some of the men of the kingdom were unhappy to be ruled by a woman. They demanded she find a husband to rule with her. Libuše had another vision about her future husband. She saw a farmer ploughing his fields in a specific spot. She told the men this was the man she would marry. The men found the farmer as she had described; his name was Přemsyl. Libuše and Přemysl became rulers together and eventually had three sons to continue the new Přemyslid dynasty of the Czechs.

4). 81.4% of Czechs are connected to the internet; the country ranks 49^th in the world for the rate of internet connection. That’s a high internet penetration rate—pretty impressive.

Cimrman Bust
Wikipedia

5). Jára Cimrman is one of the most famous Czechs who never lived. He’s a fictional character created by Jiří Šebánek, Ladislav Smoljak and Zdeněk Svěrák. Czechs claim Cimrman has invented everything from the first wheel, the first rocket and more. He won the title of Greatest Czech in 2005. Cimrman is a fun example of Czech humor—sometimes black and tongue-in-cheek, but at the same time fun.

 6). The Plastic People of the Universe was a band first formed in 1968, during the Prague Spring. The band was known for their non-conformist views and music in the 70s. The communist regime went after the band for playing “indecent” music, forcing them to go underground. Various members were arrested and harassed off and on during the regime, but survived and the band still performs today. 

7). Charles IV is considered the country’s greatest leader of all time. Charles IV was not only the king of Bohemia, but was named the Holy Roman Emperor on July 11, 1346. He was responsible for many reforms during his time as emperor, and was a staunch patron of the arts. Karlův most (Charles Bridge), in Prague, is named after Charles IV, who began construction of the bridge in 1357.

Tolar
By Berlin-George - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0

 8). The word “dollar” comes from the Czech tolar (thaler) coin, which was used in the 16^th century. The tolar was first minted in Jáchymov, a town in north western Bohemia, near the spa town of Karlovy Vary. The region was rich in silver mines.

 9). Tomáš Garrigue Masaryk (1850-1937) was the first president of independent Czechoslovakia after WWI. He’s sometimes referred to as the Czech’s “George Washington.” Masaryk was elected president of the Czechoslovak Republic on November 14, 1918. His government provided the stability the country needed after WWI, and developed the country’s economy into one of the best in the world at that time. Another interesting note, Masaryk had an American wife, Charlotte Garrigue from Brooklyn. Jiri thankfully followed in Masaryk’s steps by marrying me. J

Thank you for your continued support of Czech Off the Beaten Path. I’ve been amazed that this blog gets so many visitors, even when I’ve not written new posts for a long time. It’s been fun getting to know some of you virtually, and some of you in person.

I’ll continue to write and share my expat journey with you. It’s still an adventure, even after almost living here for an entire decade! More on that in a later post!

Happy Birthday, Beth! :)

One more note—today’s also a special day because it’s my sister-in-law’s birthday! Happy Birthday, Beth! Jirka and I hope you have a wonderful day and wish you all the best in this new year! J

That’s all for now! Have a great day!

God bless,

Sher J

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(c) 2016 by Sher Vacik. All rights reserved. 

Happy 8th Anniversary Czech Off the Beaten Path

Czech Off the Beaten Path was established back in 2007--eight years ago! The time's passed quickly and I've had many adventures since moving to the Czech Republic. This blog was started as a project to share my expat experiences, along with life married to a handsome Czech.

The Blogging Adventure

When I started writing CZOBP, I had no idea what direction the blog would take. It's become a mixture of travelogue, life experiences and funny "foreigner" stories (me--as the foreigner!) and more.

Czech Off the Beaten Path has not only provided me with a place to share stories, but it's also been a place where I continue to connect with readers and meet new people. Some readers are fellow expats in the Czech Republic and other countries, while others are back in the U.S. wondering what life is like out in the world. Along with meeting people, the blog has been a way to find freelance work and network with other freelancers.

In addition, writing this blog led me to writing for BellaOnline's Asthma site, along with writing my first ebook about asthma and working on my own freelance website.

The Past Year

Loss of Loved Ones

The past few months have been pretty busy with freelance work, but I've not been able to write much. Family matters have come to the fore.

My grandma passed away (at 100 years 11 months) and I lost my eldest daughter to PTSD (she's chosen to distance herself from everyone in our family. I hope and pray that we'll all be reunited one day). These two losses have hit me pretty hard.

Health Issues

My mother-in-law suffered a severe stroke back in June. This has had a profound effect on life for Jiri and I, but we continue to work through this situation together. I've also had to deal with my own health issues that are not life-threatening (nothing serious--just make you not feel so great).

Writing Came to a Stop

With all of this, writing just came to a stop. It's not writer's block, at least not in the traditional sense. I've had so much to write about, but just couldn't sit down and get it out. This has been more of an emotional issue--working through everything had to take precedence. However, I've finally gotten to a place where I've started writing again, and it sure feels good!

The Future

The future looks bright--my brother is marrying the love of his life this summer! I see his bride as the sister I've been waiting for--this has been in the making for 30 years or so! This is a very joyous time for our whole family!

My youngest daughter graduated with her master's degree this past May. She's back to work and happy with her new life. We're all very proud of her accomplishments. I have to say I'm one very proud mother!

Jirka and I continue to work on our cross-cultural marriage--there are always new experiences to deal with together. Each new experience points out some area that needs tending in our relationship. At times this leads to cross-cultural misunderstandings, but we keep working through together. We'll soon be celebrating our 11th anniversary, which is also the 9th anniversary of when I moved to the Czech Republic!

I'm also working on an update to my asthma ebook, along with another book to create an asthma series. I also have ideas for other books based on my expat experiences, etc. The future is bright, indeed!

What's Next on CZOBP

Kutna Hora

Jiri and I took a trip to Kutná Hora this past Wednesday. We had a wonderful time in that beautiful, ancient city. I'm working on a blog post about our trip and the things we saw, so be sure to check back for that post!

Thanks to all of you who continue to come by and visit--thanks for also visiting the CZOBP Facebook page and connecting on Twitter! It's been great meeting you all and I look forward to connecting with new people as the blog continues!

Thanks, again, and have a wonderful day!

God bless,

Sherry

Welcome & Happy New Year!

Happy New Year 2015!

Hi Everyone,
Welcome to Czech Off the Beaten Path's new home! I announced the move back in August, but didn't have time to begin working on the move until today. It feels good to have this blog on it's own shiny new site. My intention is to take up blogging regularly once we are through the holiday season. Which reminds me--Happy New Year!

The Past Year

The past year, 2014, has brought two important anniversaries; Jiri and I have been married for 10 years, I moved here 8 years ago, and Czech Off the Beaten Path turned 7 years old. Time has gone so fast, but most every minute has been packed with adventure, new experiences and people, and so much more. I can't complain.

What I've Been Up To

This past year has seen me branch out into writing my first ebook, Asthma's Nothing to Sneeze At!, and working a bit on Fiverr and other clients on many intriguing projects. I am currently working on two more ebooks that will be out later in 2015, and my fingers have itched to write fiction. I don't know where this might lead--maybe nowhere--but I'll give it a try and see what happens.

Other projects have involved getting acquainted with Linux Mint, which I installed on a USB drive, moving this blog and much more.

What's Next

Please bear with me during this transition time--my "house" is being unpacked and put in order. I'll have to go through each post to edit and fix everything that didn't "translate well" during the move.

Paint Brushes

Part of the mess comes from writing posts in Word, then copying and pasting into Blogger. Word likes to throw in it's own formatting, which only complicates things for the web. The process of cleaning up the posts includes copying and pasting the text into Notepad, which strips out all the Word formatting, then pasting the text back into the blog. There's usually a little bit of formatting left for headings, at times needing to realign/add pictures, etc., but it doesn't take too long. I'll also have to configure the comments (for each blog post), the RSS feed and some other work before this process is complete.

Wet Paint

Hopefully this will be done soon, but in the meantime, things will be a little messy until everything is put to rights and cleaned up. Please bear with me during this transition time and know that I'm working as fast as possible to get things back in working order. Moving is a messy process, especially when you're doing it yourself! Even so, please feel free to browse, read and leave comments (where possible). Just watch out for the wet paint and drop clothes--step over them carefully and please don't trip!

Cleaning House

Thank You

Thank you for hanging in there while I've been off doing other things. Thanks, too, for coming to visit our new home on the web!

I wish you all a very Happy New Year in 2015, filled with love, health, happiness and prosperity!

God bless,

Sherry

PS Please feel free to let me know about additional problems (to those I listed above)! Thanks!

(c) 2014 by Sher Vacik. All Rights Reserved.