Mini family reunion

Saturday, May 10, 2014

   Petr arranged a small family reunion so that we could see everyone. Petr planned to make wild hog skewers. He marinated the meat over night and we helped with the assembly. (Steve looked very handsome in the 100 year old apron.)

   While we were working on the skewers, Petr’s son Richard and his wife stopped by. They were on their way to southern Moravia and stopped by to say hello.

   We went back to the chateau around lunch time and then stayed there until everyone arrived after 2 PM. It was a fun gathering. The sun came out and we were able to stay outside. It was actually quite warm. In addition to everyone we have already seen on Thursday, Radka (Petr’s daughter) came with her boyfriend and one of her daughters. We tried to figure out when Radka and I saw each other last and best we could remember was that it was during Vlada’s wedding 30 years ago. We also got to meet Jarka’s daughters. One has a 9 month old baby girl and one has a 2 year old boy and expecting another in about a month. 

   Most of my relatives here in the Czech Republic feel that homeschooling is odd. And I generally get a feeling they do not approve of it (even though they are being polite and not tell us that straight in the face). But talking with Jarka’s daughters – moms of young children – I got a different vibe. They asked a lot of questions about how homeschooling works, how we choose curriculum and what our days look like. Whether or not they would consider homeschooling (it is legal in the Czech Republic) they seemed a lot more open to the idea than others who already had grown children. 

   Later after dark, Regina and I saw police officers pulling cars over at the intersection in front of the chateau. We were going back outside to tell everyone to make sure they do not get pulled over. We were wondering if someone called them because there was a party going on (this includes a lot of drinking and singing in Moravia). Petr told us they were his friends and that we should not worry. He asked if Steve would come down to speak with them (Steve was upstairs with the kids getting them settled for the night). By the time Steve got downstairs, they left. Petr called dispatch and asked them to come back. Another police car showed up with two officers. We went to speak with them to find out that they never met Petr before. Apparently, as far as Petr is concerned, everyone is his friend. However, Steve and the two officers had a good conversation.