Coming BACK!

Two embarrassing things:

 1) Seeing my blog made me want to add a new article and actually update it all! Well, forgetting my password wouldn´t be so bad- it happens once in a while to everyone, right? But forgetting even my email address that I´ve always signed up with? Ouch. It took about 20mins to figure out which email I should actually use- I was so hopeless for a minute that I though of the worst- getting a new blog! Thank goodness I held on. 

2) When I finally signed up, I was lost. Haha. I didn´t know where I should click to write a new article or just even look at my blog. 

 Those are the signs that it´s the right time for me to start over. To write all the stories again, to share them with yall and just make them a memory that I and you will be able to read here. Rolling down my blog was so magical. Going back to those times before Texas and actual Texas stories made me melt my heart- I just felt for a minute like I´m living it right now all over again. And that´s why it´s so worth writing it!

 I know, I know, there is not good enough excuse for me why I stopped posting. The excuse that I´ve been using when somebody asked me why I´m not writing new articles is that Texas life was so busy that I couldn´t keep up even with my friend´s messages much less with this blog. More then a year later I want to make a change! Spring is coming up- which means bike season also, everybody´s getting better mood- sun is shining all over the place and Amy´s getting poetic. So my challenge is to start posting again! To share everything from the present or even my favorite stories from the past! Let the adventure begin!

 Giving yall an update from the last year would be a good beginning after the year,I guess.

From the August 14th, 2011 to July 1st, 2012 I lived in Flower Mound, Dallas, Texas, The United States of America, North America (just to be informed, heh). It was an amazing year of my life! I got to experience the real american life with an awesome american family which became MY american family and part of my life afterwards. I went to the Flower Mound High School as a junior, played lacrosse, was involved in Young Life and hang out with my precious american friends as every teenager. That might sound to you like a living dream- yes, it totally was, but I have to mention that I also consider this year as the hardest year of my life. As much as I lived my american fairy tale I also struggled with a couple of things. Nothing´s perfect but my family was with me though out the good and bad , so they made it as much perfect as possible.

 Also God showed up wherever I was, whatever I was doing.  He taught me a new way of life and made me stronger and make Him love more. I can say that I´m different- I learn how to follow Christ more and more every day.

  Leaving this family was one of the hardest things of the year. People sitting around me on the plane should´ve taught I´m some kind of hysterical person! Haha. I cried and cried- my nose was running the whole time and I didn´t care, my mascara was everywhere but on my eye lashes and my hoodie was soaking wet from all the falling tears. 

 Young Life Camp and Washington DC were the trips that made the heartbreaking moment less hurtful. I met there with all the exchange students from all the Europe and Asia and also saw my wonderful YL leader Tyna! We could share our thoughts, life views and stories from our years with people who are so different but they still understood each other cause they´ve gone the "same" year!! The last week in the US I spent in NYC with my mommy- shopping, watching Broadway shows, eating wonderful food and just having a great girl´s week after the whole year! 

  Coming back and being home for the first two months is difficult. Very difficult. Your feeling are in a conflict- missing Texas home vs. happy to see my family/friends. Your friends are making fun of your "English-Czech" slang and accent- HILARIOUS... You are walking the old streets and realizing how so many things changed. I wouldn´t want to experience this again. And by that time i still hadn´t known what  to expect from school!- another shock that I have to get use to. Fortunately, I ended up in a new class with very sweet classmates that took care of me from the very beginning. I was so thankful! 

 I´ve became a student leader in Young Life starting this school year! I had been excited to be one for really long time and my time just came this year! I´m a club leader with two other of my great friends, who are so fun to work with, and I enjoy every minute of serving God this way. What a great YL team we have! Having another family like this is a huge blessing to me. 

 Nowadays I can´t wait to take Ethan out and spend some time with Him :)), I´m looking forward another hilarious YL events, making new memories with my friends and anything that God brings to my life this year. 

Meet the crazy friends of mine from YL!

 Now I should go and make some memories that I´m going to write about! 

Gratitude in pain and tears.

I used to be a passionate handball player till the injury happened to me. I tore my ACL on one handball tournament since then my knee hasn´t gotten any better although I and everybody else thought so. It´s been two years since my surgery and guess what. I already had another one, in Texas.

 I never ever loved any sport like handball till I found lacrosse. When you finally learn the basic rules, catch and throw with a lacrosse stick, there is no reason to not love this sport. And I did love it. Practices went well, scrimmage games were getting better and we all had our big first tournament in front of us. We just needed to prove others that we are the new Flower Mound team, which can make it. We can win. 

 Couple of minutes before the game we did our powerful cheer, which is always heard all over the field. In the part when you jumped and turn over, I knew that my knee is not right. I still went into the game and finished till the very last minute. I was surprised that I was able to play all each 25minutes, but with pain. I have to say though, it was the best game I´ve played. During little break my knee got swollen and I started being fearful. 

 When I told my coach the bad news before our last game, she looked at me and her words- "Is it that bad? We need you."- became stronger than any pain in me. (I´m such a horrible person in these kind of things!) So I played another battle. All 25mins each half. You can imagine, how I looked like afterwards. 

 Doctor´s appointment wasn´t any happier. Just the mention of ACL brought tears in my eyes, being honest with you, I left every appointment with hopeless crying. 

 In a month I already came at 5am to the hospital, where they were suppose to find out, what is the issue with my knee. I dressed up in a typical blue shirt, which was opened on the back, lied in the bed and couldn´t wait till they will put me into sleep. My american dad seemed little bit worried, but his smile tried not to show me any of his negative thoughts. Then my anesthesiologist asked me if he could pray for me and the last picture i remember is a picture of surgery room. When I woke up I didn´t expect such a pain, even nurses were surprised and gave me more and more pain killers. After least than 30minutes I was sent home-that was maybe the worst part of all. Being in pain, feeling dizzy and on the top of the all driving home. 

 At home my dizziness didn´t come off , either the pain. My american dad told me that I need to eat something before I can take any pain killer, but only a single thought of food made me sicker, so first day was spent in pain and dizziness till I actually found enough courage to eat a bit. 

 Well, but I didn´t mention my results yet, right? The first thing when I woke up was for my american mom- "Do you wanna hear the bad or the good news first?" So the positive thing is that my ACL is NOT torn. The worse THINGS are that I tore my meniscus, which my doctor already knew, but what he did not know was that it´s torn on two spots. The other thing was that my ACL might not be torn, but doesn´t work anyways. Why? My external ligament is too loss. From all these facts everybody should deduce- another surgery, no more lacrosse, baby! 

 This was one of the hardest challenges that I could experienced during my year, but I know that it´s happening on a purpose. My first surgery caused that I met God and fell in love with Him, so I´m pretty sure that this and the other surgery have also great reasons, why they are happening in this time, to me specifically. 

 Just today my doctor let me start riding my bike! This is pretty amazing opportunity to became even closer friends with Ethan and get use to each other :)) But running is still two months away from me. 

                                                  ~Gratitude is the memory of the heart. - Massieu~ 

Love God. Love what you have. 

Ethan&The lake

 As you could know, I´m bike freak- accurately I became a bike freak this year. The thought of not having a bike for whole year was poking me inside, but my american dad is kind of a bike freak too, so my chances to have a bike ride weren´t that bad till I found out that there is no bike that would fit me.

 Skyping with my parents one day changed my doubts about buying a bike here. A week later I bought Ethan. Nowadays I´m enjoying advantages of a bike, couple months later I will solve problems with a shipping.
You might think that buying Ethan might be the silliest idea that I could ever have, but if you have ever been to the US you know that everything is big-distances included. My program doesn´t allow me to drive a car even though my age is perfect to take driving lessons. It sort of takes away part of your independence and you have to depend on other people which sometimes may be really annoying. :))
 I love to turn off my brain, my mind, throw away all of my troubles. The best place for me to do so is a nature, no human being around, just animals. Right the day when I got my new bike, my american dad took me for a bike trip to one lake. Since that day, this lake became my very favorite place in whole Texas. The lake is surrounded from one side by woods and from the other by boats. It´s amazingly peaceful place, where you can think, relax, worship, watch sky or write in your journal. I call it my "escaping paradise". Whenever I need to be alone, the lake is the very first thing that I think of.

 My wish these days is to discover more around the lake, find more places like that and that they will build more bike trails around Texas, cause riding your bike on Texan roads might be sometimes pretty insane! :)

Becoming a Flower Mound Jaguar.

Do you remember how you felt on your first day of school? Well, I didn´t till I experienced it once more. Being confused, lost, scared, but also excited and filled with passion of discovering. On every corner some surprise. Otherwise,a school with 3500 students should be somehow different than a "poor" 500 students Czech school.

 When I first came to Flower Mound High School I couldn´t believe what I just see. I´ve never seen such a huge school in my life. Library was twice that big as a gym in my Czech school, canteen for 1000 students should be roomy enough and one gym in school? Maybe 6 gyms will be enough. That´s a short description of my school. My american mom kept telling me, that I should remember how a floor in hallways look like, cause when all the students come one day, in few months, I will have no idea what the floor looked like. She was right.
 First day of school was unforgettable for me. Seeing tons of students  was over-warming.
Here are some facts about american school:

• Breaks are 8minutes. Don´t worry, it´s enough time to get from one end of the school to the other and go to  bathroom and maybe do a warm up. Oh, I forgot to mention that you have to sprint. 
• Don´t like drawing? So count on failing in every second class. Drawing is almost everyday´s homework. Even though you´r junior.
• Football is a big thing. 
• Lunch looks exactly same as in american high school movies. Big canteen, so many tables, brown paper bags with sandwich- peanut butter and jelly. And sitting alone at lunch is the biggest faux pas.
• Going to bathroom only with special pass, which your teacher should signature.
• Nobody cares if you´r sleeping in class. You can even snore. 
• Writing test, quiz, even essay- only with pencil.
• Pledge an american flag. And a Texas flag. Every day.
• Every period has 90mins. The only break for eating is lunch. My motto: "keep surviving"

When I finally sat in my very first class on my desk, which looks exactly like from american movies- only seat fixed with a desk. Crazy, cheerful, smiling teacher literally jumped into class, telling us stories about her and her family. I didn´t know, that first classes of any subject is only about teacher and her/his personal life. The moment that I was the most excited about when teachers read list of names and they got to my name. I was just curious what kind of pronunciation will be used know. I always had to repeated my name like 5times, but still teachers gave up after second try, other kids on my class were amused though. 

 First lunch was total nightmare for me. As I wrote already it´s big deal to sit alone at lunch. It made me nervous when I thought about sitting with one of these loud crazy freshman kids. So I finally walked in the canteen I met one known girl, who asked me to sit with her, which warmed up my heart. Haha. The other thing that I didn´t know was, that you have to wait till bell rings. I was surely walking down the hallway heading to my german class at the other end of school, when one of school employee stopped me and asked me where I´m going, that I can´t go anywhere till I hear a bell. I had 10minutes left. Nothing better came to my mind but standing and watching a huge clock in a school hall. When was a minute left I realized that I need to go to bathroom! I never ran that fast in my life! To bathroom, from bathroom, to german class. I finally sat, took a breathe, but in the moment a teacher came to me and talked to me fluently in German. Oh my. I never felt so hopeless. She kept asking me so many questions, till I answered at least what my name is. "I knew that German 3 will be too hard for me. I hate it already." Standing in front of the whole class and describing in German what I brought to school that day didn´t make my mood any better. I could say that I was seriously thinking about dropping that class, but lucky me, I did not. It´s my only class where I have clear 100%, the best classmates and I can say it´s maybe the most relaxing class I have. And I also don´t want to mention that, even though I was convinced about my low level of German skills, I had to correct my own quizzes after it was already graded. Languages are not very strength side of schools here, I guess. 

 Even world knowledge is not very clear for most of Americans. I rather stopped asking if they have a clue where Czech Republic is after answers like: "Wooow. I´ve never heard of that.", "Hm...I´m guessing Europe?", "Oh! That´s the country in South America, right?". In my world geography class first two week all of us sat by three people per table. Working with map almost made me cry. If you heard the same what I did, you would know why! "Hey, check this out. There is a Jerusalem!! It really exists! I thought that it´s just random city in Bible! And it´s in Asia!"... five minutes later:"Ok, now, we have to find Moscow.", the other girl:"Well, it´s at Alaska, so somewhere here...Hm, I can´t find it!" Teacher:"Russia girls, Russia." That´s how my world geography classes go. 

 I like this school a lot so far. What I like the most about this type of education is that it´s not only about memorizing things, but also understanding and working in teams. Otherwise, it´s true that for example using your notes during a quiz doesn´t make any sense. And this school will teach you how to start loving homework. I was never so excited to do my homework! haha.
 This school year will be fun. I can´t wait to try another classes as Communication Application, Global business, American History, Human Geography, Teen Leadership and many others. I just hope, that I´ll be fast, fighting, but smart as real Flower Mound High School Jaguar should be! :)

Get ready your Texas hat.

After a while I finally got a time to just sit down, got a can of MtnDew and opened my notebook for different use than dictionary. USA has been busy, crazy, but wonderful so far. So let´s recapitulate my first week!

 The saddest part of this was maybe saying goodbye to my parents, who wouldn´t even let me go. I rather ran away, cause seeing them and actually not seeing them for a year was making me cry. The most scary part for me was -the airport-. So many gates, terminals, planes, people.... But actually I loved seeing so many kinds of people around me! When I was sitting at the airport I played a game- Guess who they are. Haha.
 Flights went smoothly and I was also lucky about my seatmates. First flight I sat with Czech grandpa and his grandson, but I fell asleep just before take off, then I woke up and I was in London. Haha.
 I didn´t get lost as I predicted, so I was fine, even controls went fast, what a lucky girl! When I was sitting at the airport I got the weird feelings. "You´r sitting at the airport. Where are you actually flying? United States? What are you gonna do there? WHAT? Staying for a year? Going to school? Are you making fun of me?!?!" In that moment I was so scared and thought what a silly girl I am, that I´m doing such a thing, but I was also proud of myself, that I found enough strength to leave my family and friends and try unknown.
Calling for flight pulled me out of my though-full processes. Most of the flight I just slept, ate, watched Forest Gump, or watched scenery from a window. Half an hour I could saw Texas and Texan deserts, farms, houses, barren lands and all around. Is it really my future home?
 Staying on the American ground was making me nervous. All the controls, weird people, big things all around,... And all the huge posters- Welcome to Unites States of America! Welcome to Texas!. I, feeling nervous about my suitcase, finally found it, without any scratch or dirt on it. Yay! Then very last controls and the most scary and exciting part was here. Meeting my family. I walked out of the big door, saw tons of people standing and waiting for their friends or family to come and then I saw-Dad and mom paying attention for me to come, Austin and Hayden texting on a phone, Gretchen running all around. Here they come!! When they all noticed that I´m already here, they pulled out big posters- Welcome Amy! Welcome to Texas! Gave mu huge hugs and took many pictures. I knew, that´s gonna be my family for a year.
Seeing houses all around for very first time for me was little bit shocking. I never saw so many beautiful, enormous homes at one place. I couldn´t believe, that I´m gonna live there for a year!
 My kingdom is purple little cute room with large bed, big closet and bathroom, which was  reconstructed right before my arrival.
 Maybe the worst thing about Texas is the weather. It´s a little difference when you come from raining summer to burning place like Texas is. Nobody was able to do anything outside in 45°C but sit inside. It sometimes made me sad, when you wake up, see sunshine, blue sky and just perfect day from inside, you go out and think, that there is no chance to at least walk to your neighbors.
 First week in Lone star state was mostly about getting to know my family, Texas shops, our house and Texas life and people. I never said in few days so many times- Hi. I´m Amy. Nice to meet you too. That was for sure over-warming.
 Mornings were spent in pool with my sibling, afternoons in shops with mom and sisters. The funniest afternoon was spent in Costco-similar to Makro. Well, when you are hungry and you don´t have a cash or you forgot your credit card, Costco is the place for you. When mom left us in this big thing, Gretchen and Hayden hold my hand and said- We will teach you, how american kids shop in here. We came by about 30 stands with any kinds of sample! We tasted everything from cinnamon popcorn to buffalo wings. I couldn´t wish for better dinner.
 When I was thinking about what sport I´m gonna play here, I decided for lacrosse. I didn´t expect it, but right on Friday, the week I came, I had my very first practice. Even thought I trained for a little while, throwing and catching, with Austin and Gretchen, I still never played lacrosse before, so I had no clue what to do. I bet i had to look hilarious. But girls and coach were patient with me, so I didn´t feel too bad. Haha.
 On Sunday, I went to church called,Irving Bible Church, with whole family. That was the strongest experience so far. I´ve never seen such a huge church in my life before! The church was for 3000people! I wish everyone could hear the music, listen to the talk and just spend there at least one Sunday morning. WoW.
That was my very first week in US. I´m so excited to spend this year here! I can´t wait to experience, what God plans for me. I know, that not every day won´t be easy, but I´m ready to enjoy every minute. At school. At home. At practices. In Flower Mound.

No goodbye.

I hate saying goodbyes. That´s the only thing I truly disdain.However, my last week in Czech was full of "Bye" words. But I couldn´t cry. It´s just a year; life is full of years. Anyways even though I had to do what I really dislike, the last week in Czech was maybe the best one of all year.

You know what´s really big advantage of goodbye? You see, who wants to give you the very last hug before you leave, who you´r not worthy saying goodbye and how would rather tell you goodbye many years ago.
This week I just saw real friends in my friends, if you know how I mean it.
Wonderful sleep over with my perfect sissy! She´s the only one, who is able to eat as much candies as me and not get sick of it and the one, who has pretty much same destiny and feelings as I do.
Film night with my girlfriends, who you never ever be bored with. Last american breakfast with Mrs. Ward, how I´m gonna miss this! Then sleepover at Vendy´s place!! The most beautiful midnight walk with Štěpán around lake by moonlight and then amazing ride home! The best afternoon spent with bestie named Caroline! The delicious dinner with Osohovi! I couldn´t even believe, that I spent there more like 4hours! And you know what?! My friends made me a surprise Goodbye party, where were all of my favorite people I know! I also had my family Goodbye party, what a fun! Trust me or not, I didn´t have time to sit down and relax. My very last goodbye belonged to Tyna. It wouldn´t be us, if we didn´t do anything crazy. Right 4hours, before we left to airport me and Tyna -in the strongest downpour- went throw my shoes. It might sound crazy, but we seriously were throwing my shoes for like a half an hour on some ropes, which were right above the main road. So when you will see turquoise shoes, those are probably mine. Haha.

Ashley- I love our bike rides&sleepovers&breakfasts. You´r the one, who I could come to whenever with any problem I had and you listened. Thank you for loving me, who I am. Thank you for being my leader. For more than my leader. For being my unique friend.
Tyna- You, star, you are so much important in my life. You gave me so much courage during this year and not even this year. I cannot imagine not doing such as crazy things as we usually do, or even do it with anyone else. No way. Thank you for helping me drawing, when I lost my pencil. Thank you for sharing your life with me. You can´t imagine how much I adore you.
Caroline- I have in my life for 15years. So we should add at least another 15years, what? What scares me a lot, that you know me more, than I do myself! But that´s how best friends should go, right? :) I already told you everything I wanted. I love you.
Crightons- After this year, I feel much closer with you, Lucy. Thank you for every evening you spent with me, when I needed help, thank you for taking care of me, for being my WC boss. Nathan, thank you being patient with my (sometimes stupid) Christian questions, thank for teaching me how to be real bike girl and supporting me, when I was about to give up. Thank YOU both.
Honza- You are my brother, whom I never had. I´m so grateful for you. You can´t even get how much you helped me with preparing for this year I´m absolving. You´re my family. Thank for being here for me.
Natty- I know you for so short, but it seems for me like we grew up together, like we are twins. This year you gave me a lot. If a rule "Laugh makes life last longer" would work, I will live forever thanks to you girl! You stole part of my heart and I hope, you will have it for another looooong time. Hey sis! Guess what! I love you.
Osohovi- You guys, are my light. I feel so connected with each of you! Thank you for supporting me in every step I take, for loving me and thank you Marek, for every sport event we made. I can´t wait to do other crazy activities with you all guys. You are blessing for me.
Tom- You don´t even know, how much you prepared me for this year. Thank you. Do you remember, once we were talking about respect. You know what? You got main.
Eva&Vendy- My sisters in Christ! I love, how we growth in faith together and how we shared lives together. I´m so proud of you, girlies! Thank you for everything. You are beautifully amazing!
Štěpa- You don´t know how happy to have you in my life! I guess, we the best jokes ever, don´t we? :) I just love, how we laugh at the past and enjoy present now, together. You mean a lot to me.
Martin&Kisha&Sany- My buddies!! You brightened my day everyday I felt down and made me smile so much! Thank you for bike rides, every club and every time we spent together. :)


Mom&Dad- The biggest thank you belongs to YOU both. You´r loving me for whole my life, you´r supporting my dreams, my steps, taking care of me, when I´m sick or sad, sharing the happiest time of my life. Without you I won´t be who I am right now. You made this dream real. Thank you God for them. Thank you for their love, Lord. Mom,Dad, I love you.

Thank you also for other friends like Irenka, my girlfriends!!, Terezka, Míša, Fojta, JB, Nathalie, Hanka,Peťa, Tálka and many others. Thank you so much for everything.

I think,nothing ends by this year, but something great begins. Let´s go and discover!
Hey. And there is another very important part of my life, that I forgot to thank to. God, I thank you for these people you brought to my life and for every experience I had with with them! You are the biggest friend of main.

P.S. Big girls don´t cry!

1YL 2011

I know, that going to USA is a BIG thing especially for whole year, but when you know that very first YL camp is happening in your country, you don´t want to miss it. You rather change date of your flight that this camp´s gonna fit in! And I did so. I don´t regret it.

 At first, I couldn´t wish better cabin. Who would? Me, my twin-Natti, Kathy, Double M, Katie, Blanka, Markétka, Míla. And best cabin leader- TYNA. Bored with these girls? No way. I loved our cabin times, when we shared the deepest thoughts of our hearts or the most awkward moments that just happened at camp and during careful listening we passed tons of candies and never got fat. Haha. And please, call us- Transformiss.
 My day usually started with morning run. It was so hard to wake up after crazy days filled up with games or any kind of activities. I can say running meant for me personal time with my best friend- God though. Sometimes my leader Marek joined me, which made running even more exciting but also harder. Haha. Anyways my cabin-mates hated me for waking them up every morning so early by my loud searching for running clothe.
 What I loved the most about camp was the surroundings where all that was set. The nature, the lakes, the woods, the everything. Just weather could be much better, more sunny day, less rainy ones. Anyways we enjoyed every second we spent there. I can say that evening clubs couldn´t be any better. Games, songs and the best for the end was David Martin´s talk. Whenever he talked you laughed so hard but also thought in your mind of every word he just said. What a night!
 This week prepared for a year perfectly. Gave me enough psychical and physical energy, clear mind and deep trust in God.
Thanks God for every week like this. Thank you for plans you prepared for us. Thank for YOU.