European Youth Forum

We got a train from the Czech Republic down to Altotting - actually, it was three trains. We stayed with a host family. They were so lovely. It sure beat staying on the floor in a school like the other participants of the forum. Tis a good thing that we aint young any more.

Beautiful Altotting 

Kev had a lot of work to do for the forum. He was in charge of organising the evening programme with some of our former students. My service was to take care of Msgr Sarno who was one of the guest speakers. He is an American priest who has worked in Rome for 30 years (at the Congregation for the Cause of Saints). He is one of our main teachers at the ESM and a good friend of ours. So, my responsibility was to make sure that he was happy with his accommodation, that he had everything he needed for his talk and his workshops, and to take him our for beer and lunch and coffee, etc. It was a tough job but someone had to do it. Actually, I didn't do a very good job of it. Several times I reaslised that I didn't have any money, so he had to pay. What are friends for...?

 Msgr Sarno giving his talk on the main stage

The forum was great. The weather was interesting - it was beautiful and sunny every day, and it also poured raining every day. There was something for everyone. We got to catch up with a lot of former students which is always fun.

Alexey, Marthe, Miri Miri, Eric, Kev, Caroline, Msgr Sarno, Hele

(The camera got wet in the rain - nice effect, huh!)

We also met lots of lovely people, and found a few youngies who were interested in doing the ESM.We managed to find some opportunities to get work done too. As usual (when we have an international gathering), we had lots and lots of meetings with members of the Community who we work with (at a distance) for the School.

It was a great forum.

Czech it out!

Kev and I had a few days to kill between the wedding and the Youth Forum in Germany so we looked at a map to decide where to go. We realised that were very close to the Czech Republic but the only place that I had heard of (apart from Prague which is on the other side of the country) was Pilsen, which is known for it's beer. This sounded like a great idea when we were still in Italy. It kinda lost its appeal though, the day after we drank beer all day at a German wedding. Luckily the novelty returned once we got there. 

Oh, it is such a beaut place. We were so pleased to find that the hotel we booked was opposite the cathedral in the town square.

Pilsen -  The view from our hotel room

Cathedral of St Bartholomew

We spent a lot of time wandering around the lovely old town. We also ate heaps. The are really good at serving humungus amounts of food - and really large beers.

We went on an historical underground tour. This sounded fascinating, but it was pretty dumb. Just before it started we were surrounded by a loud group from some foreign land. I was glad that we had booked the English tour so that we wouldn't have to be underground with this noisy mob. In fact, it wasn't an English tour...it was a tour where everyone is given a person electronic guide so we were all together. The commentary took longer than the tour though, so we couldn't listen to all of it. We had to wear hard-hats which was a bit stupid. They sit so high off your head that we kept hitting the ceiling which we wouldn't have done if we weren't wearing the darn things. But it gave opportunities to laugh at each other, so it was worth it.

 Underground historical tour of Pilsen

After the tour we went to a pub for lunch. We were obliged to, because we were all given a voucher for a free beer so we had no choice. I decided to order the special that was recommended on the menu - the knee of a pig. I thought it best to order a side of chips as well. When the three plates arrived (pig, veges, chips) we were in shock. The pig was bigger than my head. It was sooooo delicious. I couldn't eat it all so Kev helped. I also had my free beer to wash it down.

 A couple of pigs

We also visited the Pilsen Brewery. We had to. You can't not. It was wonderful.

 Kev in front of the main gates of the brewery

We joined an English-speaking tour (a real one) that lasted almost two hours. It was fantastic. We saw how they bottle the beer, how they brew it, the history, etc. It really was great.

 The bottling room

 These barrels are bigger than we are.

 Underground cellar where the beer ferments

 We were given a sample

After the tour, Kev was still hungry so he had pizza for dinner. I was so full after my pig-lunch and beer that I just had an icecream for dinner.

Hungry Kev

We had such a wonderful few days in Pilsen. It was a shame it was so short.

Bavarian Wedding

The first of our ESM kiddies got married in Germany on 28th July, and Kev and I were invited. We flew into Munich airport and met up with Fr Benoit who drove us to Miriam's house where we stayed for the night. (Miriam was a student from last year). Another student (Baptiste) was staying there at the same time, so it was fun all around.

The following morning we drove to Waldsassen for Monika's wedding. We were greeted outside the church by the squeels of our ESM students from two years ago. We cannot tell you how good it was to see them. Out of 20 students from that year-group, 16 came for the wedding.

The wedding was absolutely beautiful. We were so proud of our Monika! After the wedding in the church, everyone gathered in the square outside.

Monika and Michael (with Fr Benoit doing the reading)

Michael's father helps out at the fire department, so there were fire engines and hoses all over the place. The bride and groom had to walk through the hoses.....

The Bride and Groom made it through the fire hose

.....and then into the basket-thingy which is attached to the ladder. The ladder extended up high and they had to get a huge bunch of flowers that was hanging from the top of a building. It was amazing.

Getting the flowers down from the top of the building

While everyone was congratulating the newlywed couple, we were catching up with our ESM kids.

ESM 2010-2011

Hele and Kev in Waldsassen, Germany

Monika and Michael were whisked away in an old-fashioned fire engine, with the sirens blaring. The reception took place at fire department museum nearby. It began at about midday and continued until about 2am. Basically we ate and drank for 14 hours. It was so much fun.

Miriam, Lisa, Maria Ana, Cacilia, Monika, Natalia, Hele and Kev 

We were all invited (the ESM gang) to stay and Monika's in-law's house which was just around the corner. There wasn't enough room for everyone, so some of stayed at Monika's father-in-law's work. He is a doctor so we stayed in his clinic. We each had our own room and slept on the examination tables. It was surprisingly comfortable, although I had a bit of trouble sleeping because I was scared of falling out - it was pretty narrow. At least I would have received all the care I needed.

My bedroom for the night

The next morning we went back to the museum for breakfast, because we hadn't eaten in a few hours. We spent most of the day with the ESM kids - they are such a good group.

Later in the afternoon Kev and I were driven to the station where we caught a train to the Czech Republic for a few days of rest.