Projektu Noví Ochí Končí

Not sure I got that title right, but the translation should be Project New Eyes Finishes...

Last night we had our closing party, and it was a fabulous close to this strange adventure.   Sadie designed a beautiful display of the photos Dave took in January of the kids in the Dětský Domov in Kašperský Hory.  She, Luboš, and some other helpers had asked the kids to talk about their photos.  The Czech quotes and English translations were displayed beneath each photo. 

Michael Kaly's project also was displayed.  In Chanovice, he had kids write essays about themselves in English.  

I gave a little speech in broken Czech.  Steve also presented his closing in Czech,

 much less haltingly. 

We had music from Mara, Maya, Martina, and Erin, then Illegal Beagle took the stage.  They rock.  It was great to see them for the first time so far from home.  A Czech metal band called Thin Ice closed the evening.  They had their own muse, a woman dancing in leather studded pants.  Hmmm....

I did not take photographs last night, which was kinda nice.  Dave, Alice, and Lucia went back to the Dětský Domov to take more pictures yesterday and then came to the party last night. With his permission, I'll post some of his images later.  

I stayed in Sušice, after all, and will travel to Kadov tomorrow.  My last week in the Czech Republic will be spent getting to know another Czech family.  I am looking forward to living in the country and learning about life in Kadov.  

Today I said a very tearful farewell to Pavlina and her mother.  I do not understand why I had an impact on them.  Her mother treated me like a daughter and Pavlina told me that I was a second mother to her.  

My mom & dad are on their way to Ghost Ranch.  They suggested that I should post more photos of myself, but I don't have many, really.   Here's one of Sadie, me and Pavlina in the tower of the Mětsky Urad (CityHall) here in Sušice.