Friend from Kindergarten!!

If it wasn't raining, then Leos and I made it a point to go out for a walk everyday.  It was quite cold and cloudy, but still much better than in the Czech Republic.  While walking around Baby Beach I suddenly saw my friend from Kindergarten.  I wasn't sure if he was in the area, so I didn't message him beforehand.  It was such a nice surprise to see him and we said we would organize another time to catch up properly. It was quite funny because the picture we took together was the same location where I took a photo of Lauren (a common friend) and I.  I guess walking around Baby Beach is popular!

                                                                Leos waving

                                                            empty beach

                  there were dolphins in the distance, but I wasn't able to really catch it on camera

Gifts from my Parents' Neighbor

 As soon as Christmas is over, all the items for Valentine's Day fly onto the shelves.  This year was crazy with the amount of Valentine's goods you could buy.  I don't think I have ever seen it like this before.  It seems like every company wants their share of the holiday craze.  It's not like this in the Czech Republic at all!  Not everyone celebrates Valentine's Day in the Czech Republic because they see it as an American commercialized holiday, which it kind of is.  However, there has been a gradual increase in Valentine's goods.  For lunch, I wanted to try Raising Canes because my student and I talked about it.  It went viral several months ago on social media and I wanted the chance to tell my student that I tried it.  Sure enough when I told my student, he got incredibly jealous! We went for a nice wet walk because we wanted to take advantage of where we are for the time being.  When I got home, my parents' neighbor rang the door bell and gave us fresh hot lumpia (Filipino spring rolls).  There were absolutely delicious.  Then my mom made Japanese sweet potato for the neighbor which I had to deliver.  When I went to give the sweet potato, the neighbor then gave me fresh cut pineapple from Hawaii and a present for Amaya.  It was incredibly sweet of her.  I told her that I was organizing a Filipino cooking class in the next few weeks and she told me that I had to make sure that lumpia would be on the menu (it was!). 

                                                            Valentine's stuff for sale

                                                                pretty good chicken!

                                                    a lot more water after the few days of rain

                                                                fresh lumpia

                                                                pineapple from Hawaii

                                                             cute outfit from the neighbor! 

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year everyone!!! I hope this year will bring you lots of happiness, health, love and luck! Once again the weather was bad and there was just rain all day on New Year's eve.  Luckily, just like Christmas day, on New Year's Day the sun came out and we were able to go on a nice walk. We went to the harbor and then went to the beach behind the Ocean Institute.  The tide was super low and there were so many people on the beach. My friend, Lauren, happened to message me while we were walking in the harbor asking to meet at the harbor for a walk.  I told her that we were already there, so she came over to meet up with us.  She was able to meet Amaya and Leos.  It was nice for her to meet my family. When I got home, my mom prepared Osechi (Japanese New Year's food) which was nice to eat.  I got to enjoy my two cultures' New Year's food.  Open sandwich (chlebicek) from the Czech Republic in the morning and Osechi in the evening.  It was a nice way to start the year!

                                                                    chlebicek

                                                  

                                        

                                                        osechi (Japanese New Year's food)