A Sadhu from India?

I kept hearing Semmel baba from the other side of the dinner table and was wondering why my Czech and German friends were talking about some Indian saint. I tried to listen in and asked J and D what they were talking about. They said we are having Semmelbaba for dessert. I thought I heard wrong, but only later realised that Semmelbaba was the name of the yummy strudel that Nadja prepared for us.

Yes Semmelbaba a very yummy Czech cake and the main ingredient is 'Semmel' which translates into bread and yes they mainly use left over bread to prepare this delicacy. You should definitely try it out when you get the chance.

March through March..

OMG, it is already March and the first week of the month is already done. I am really spooked thinking about how the weeks are flying away. I still have not started working on any of my New Year resolutions. Actually at this point in time cannot remember if I made any at all.

A lovely vacation week now behind me and I am rearing to march through the entire month of March. Actually it will be quite a packed month at work. But still cannot seem to forget the mountains, the fresh air, the feel of the cold snow, the warm smile of Nadja our hostess who take care of us during our stay at the chalet in the Czech Republic. Little bunny asked me before going to bed when she can go skiing again and I knew exactly what was going through that beautiful mind of hers.

I promise myself that at the speed the months seems to be rolling ahead it will soon be time to go back.
But for now let me focus on marching through March.

Want to know more about Peter?

It's a lovely week here in the Czech Republic. I mean there is not too much snow, but enough for us beginners to learn. It is the fourth year we are here with our friends and everytime we get a little more familiar with everything about this place. Seems to become a part of our lives.

I am also happy with the progress I have made with my skiing. Maybe in the next couple of days I will go on to the higher slopes with my older daughter. Target is to come down the slopes skiing together with her, let's see if I can make that target this year.

But this post is not about me but about my teacher who is helping me get to that target goal. He is called Doctor Peter. Almost 78 years old, but a real toughie. Already last year when I was here he told me that I need to get rid of all my fears and just enjoy the sport. The rest would come automatically. Well, thats easier said than done. But I think he has an unique way of explaining his lifes events which kind of transports you to a different world, and then you somehow at the same time you seem to make the right moves sliding down that slope.



Peter, tole me that back in 1980 he lived in the Communist Czech Republic and he longed to get away. It was difficult for somebody back then to get their identity papers and also get a visa to travel to another country like Canada. Yes that was Peter's dream back then to leave communist Czech Republic and live in Canada and that's exactly what he did.

From 1980 - 1981 Peter stayed at a refugee camp in Austria and then realised that the only way out was to escape. And that is exactly what he did and he went to Canada and applied for asylum. Today Peter is a Canadian citizen and spends his time between Canada and the Czech Republic. He comes to the Czech Republic in the winters mainly to help people like me meet their target goals on skiing. He makes it sounds so easy and nice, and it is amazing what a hard life he had to go through in the past.



Today Peter proudly talks about his daughter who is a very famous doctor back in Canada who lives in a million dollar home. He tells me that probably this is the last season when he would be coming back to the Czech Republic as he plans to get a mobile home and move to Florida for his retirement.

I really hope that I will meet Peter also the next year when I am here. His stories are so interesting and sometimes I wish I could just listen to them instead of having to focus on my moves. But then like how Peter realised his dream, I remind myself that my dream is to ski down those slopes with my daughters :-)