We took a train trip to Plzen, where my father's family originated. On the train we were in a compartment with 4 other speakers of various languages. One man and woman kept up a constant, lively conversation in German, Czech and Russian. After an hour, the most boisterous man decided to try and engage the Americans, probably for entertainment. We warmed up to each other with my three Czech words to break the ice - Bramborove (potato), knedliky (dumpling) and kolac (sweet roll.) After this I wrote down my father's name, in the original spelling, Bruj. He immediately pronouced it correctly! We were able to communicate that I was looking for my family and we would like to visit a cemetery. Only one of our fellow travelers was getting off at Plsen but the other two arranged for him to "watch over us." Because "the taxi drivers are bandits!" So this kind gentleman led us to the counter to buy bus tickets, offered to buy them for us, and then to the stop and pointed us to the stop to get off for the cemetery. It was a wonderful morning of making new friends. Fritz said he thought the German lady especially was touched that I was trying to find my family. We found the large city cemetery and we were starving at that time. The only place to eat was inside a modern western-style mall where the real people shop. It was a lovely slice of life - we bought some essentials in Tesco - their Wal-Mart and ate in the food court at McDonalds while listening to Ricky Martin. Not all traveling moments are magical:) Then we went across to the cemetery and walked thru the shady gardens. At the office they had no record of Bruj's. The train station in Plsen was very beautiful and Fritz had some of their famous beer. Because lunch was so unsatisfying, we bought some kolac at a beautiful bakery in the station. Then on the way back to Prague, we shared a coach with a woman from Plsen who told me she does know one man named Bruj, and he lives in a smaller village outside the town. She had visited the U.S. several times and has a niece who plays gold for Florida Southern College! So we exchanged emails - she offered to research my family and we promised to look up her niece!
2 comments:
If her niece plays golf at FSC, then Robbie is her coach! That's so wild. As Mickey Mouse says, "it's a small world after all!" How exciting to go back to the homeland. You and Aaron and the food words. No wonder you two communicate so well. I'm enjoying following along all the exciting excursions. Please tell Fritz we say hello!
Thanks for following my thinking and not my writing! Yes, she plays golf, not gold and yes, Robbie would be her coach! If we got the story correctly it will be great fun. I snapped a photo with Auntie and me.
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