Czech Up

We have made it to Europe! After six weeks of inhaling an unhealthy amount of dust and pollution in Cairo, we have now swapped the air of a Reno Casino for air that tastes like Fuji water.

We are currently staying at a quaint Airbnb on the outskirts of Nova Bystrice which is situated in the very southern part of the Czech Republic. It is a beautiful and rural part of the country that is sprinkled with a combination of large wooded areas, sheep grazed pastures, and colorful small villages formed around small chapels. In the village of Nova Bystrice itself, we have yet to find any two restaurants that are open at the same time. 

Our Airbnb appears to be a wing of a house that was converted into another living quarters. While our space is private, the owners and operators of the establishment are simply a door away. It’s an older couple who rely explicitly on hand gestures and/or google translate.  They do not speak English.  At first, we talked AT each other in hopes that one word or one expression will spark some recognition. While the noises sounded compelling, we comprehended the gist completely nonverbally.

Yesterday, the gentleman came in bearing his iPad. He opened up google translate and spoke. The device translated his words and finally offered insight into what he was trying to say. “When do you plan on drowning yourself?” While slightly threatened, I gave the honest-looking man the benefit of the doubt. Maybe he wasn’t actually asking me about killing myself, but rather about my plans for the day. I then leaned over and spoke assuming the app could work its magic again. I said, “We are going golfing then will be back at 14:00.” Google translate understood that as “We are going coughing, then will be back at 14:00.” He gave me a gentle smile, thumbs up, and went out the door. 

While I am hoping he came to the conclusion that coughing meant golfing, there truly is no way of knowing. As I write this I am still pondering what this man was implying I do with my time here in Czechia.